Long march fears snarl freight traffic
Truckers halt northbound journeys, leaving cargo stranded in Karachi
The Pakistani government's decision to exclude the PTI's long march from the capital has resulted in a backlog of shipping containers in Karachi. Truck drivers are hesitant to head north due to concerns their vehicles may be seized, with containers potentially being used to block access to Islamabad ahead of the planned October 4 protest.
Javid ur Rehman, a 35-year-old truck driver who has halted such trips, explained that entering Punjab is akin to "committing suicide." Police have seized vehicles and containers, leaving drivers distressed. Steel shipping containers, packed with sand and welded together, have lined the roads towards Islamabad for weeks in anticipation of the march, which was postponed from September 27.
This approach is not the proper way to halt protests, according to Rana Mohammad Aslam, president of the Karachi Goods Carrier association. Authorities began halting vehicles around September 5, weeks before the original march date. Meanwhile, Punjab police and the provincial home department have not responded to inquiries. The containers are arranged strategically to be deployed at crucial entry points into Islamabad.
Transporters facing rising costs argue they cannot bear the loss of seized trucks. The police have requisitioned over 2,000 vehicles in September ahead of the march, many still loaded with cargo and held for days with little or no compensation. This reluctance is causing containers to accumulate in Karachi, disrupting routes to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Peshawar, and Attock.
The financial burden is mounting for those whose containers have been seized, with daily demurrage charges ranging from Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 per container. Operators are grappling to pay drivers and maintain their fleets, as international shippers expect payment regardless of the delivery delay. Pervaiz Khan, a 50-year-old father of five, is hesitant to transport a load of chemicals from Karachi to Punjab, as the risk of his vehicle being seized upon entering Punjab is too great.
Drivers stranded near Islamabad have lamented lost days of work and earnings. If the roads reopen, their children's livelihoods could be restored, as they rely on their father's income. Otherwise, they will remain stationary.
Written by urgent.news from The Express Tribune - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
