Pakistan’s goods transporters have warned that the country’s supply chain could face serious disruption as more than 2,000 commercial vehicles remain detained at different locations amid restrictions on their movement.
The All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association has called for immediate implementation of the government’s announced Rs. 400 million relief package and demanded the release of loaded vehicles.
Association President Muhammad Owais Chaudhry Advocate said the closure of the M1 and M2 motorways to commercial traffic was causing major difficulties for the transport industry.
According to the association, transporters are increasingly reluctant to send vehicles toward Islamabad, upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir because of the ongoing uncertainty.
Owais said more than 2,000 vehicles are currently being held in Islamabad, Taxila, Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Jhelum, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Jatli and Sialkot.
He called for the immediate release of vehicles carrying goods, warning that prolonged detention could disrupt the movement of essential supplies.
For empty commercial vehicles that remain detained, the association has proposed compensation of Rs. 20,000 per vehicle for every day of detention.
The group has also demanded that the Rs. 400 million compensation announced by the government be implemented without further delay.
Owais said transporters were operating under a growing sense of uncertainty and fear, while many vehicles had stopped traveling toward Islamabad and other affected areas.
He warned that if the situation continues and the government does not provide timely relief, disruptions could spread through the wider supply chain.
The association said it had already raised the matter with Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Islamabad police inspector general and other relevant officials.
However, Owais said transporters had yet to see satisfactory practical steps to resolve the issue and remained concerned about the continued detention of their vehicles.
