Highway gridlocks paralysesupply chains | The Express Tribune

KARACHI:

The six-day blockade of the National Highway in Sindh has brought local trade and industrial activity to a grinding halt, paralysing supply chains and sending shockwaves through the national economy.

Businesses are reeling from the crippling financial losses as shipments remain stranded and a sea of containers continues to pile up, turning vital trade routes into virtual dead zones, said overseas investors in a statement on Wednesday.

Over 3,500 vehicles remain stranded near Sukkur, many carrying export consignments, perishable items, and critical industrial inputs. The complete halt to goods movement is already affecting market supplies, with shortages looming.

This disruption has fractured essential supply chain linkages. Industries across provinces are facing shutdown risks due to the raw material stuck at Karachi Port, while exporters are missing delivery deadlines, which further damages Pakistan’s credibility as a reliable trading partner and threatens future contracts, they said.

Separately, the fertiliser industry has called for immediate intervention to facilitate the transportation of fertiliser that the blocked roads in Sindh. “We seek your immediate intervention regarding the ongoing road blockades in Sindh, particularly in the Sukkur-Larkana division and border areas,” Fertiliser Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council (FMPAC) Chairman said in a letter to the Sindh chief secretary.