Lahore
\nThe Ferozepur Road Industrial Association (FRIA) has expressed serious alarm over the continued suspension of export cargo movement due to protest blockades in Sindh, warning that industrial supply chains are under extreme stress and the country\u2019s exports are at grave risk.
\nIn a statement issued on Tuesday, FRIA Chairman Shahbaz Aslam said that the prolonged demonstrations have paralysed key routes leading to Karachi\u2019s ports, leaving containers stuck for several days and disrupting production timelines across multiple sectors \u2014 especially textile and garments.
\n\u201cThe manufacturing sector operates on strict deadlines. When goods don\u2019t move, orders are delayed or cancelled altogether. The damage is not limited to one industry \u2014 it\u2019s hitting exporters, transporters, port operations, and factory workers alike,\u201d he stated.
\nAccording to Shahbaz Aslam, a growing number of exporters are reporting financial losses due to missed vessel bookings, rising demurrage charges, and warehouse overflow. \u201cGarment consignments ready for shipment are lying idle while international buyers are growing increasingly impatient.
\nThis is sending the wrong signal to global partners who value predictability and punctuality,\u201d he added. He emphasized that the consequences of these delays extend beyond economic losses.
\n\u201cPakistan\u2019s position in international markets depends on consistency. We\u2019re competing with countries that offer much smoother logistics and better risk management. Continued disruption like this pushes orders out of Pakistan,\u201d he warned.
\nShahbaz Aslam also highlighted that Lahore\u2019s key industrial zones, particularly along Ferozepur Road, are suffering from the downstream impact of halted transport. Many production units are unable to dispatch finished goods, and others are facing raw material shortages due to the disruption of incoming supplies.\\
\nThe FRIA Chairman called for the creation of dedicated \u201cexport corridors\u201d that would remain operational regardless of political or protest situations. \u201cExporters are not asking for favours \u2014 they\u2019re asking for protection of what brings valuable foreign exchange into the country. This is a national interest, not a local inconvenience,\u201d he stressed.
\nShahbaz Aslam also appealed to protestors and organisers to consider the broader impact of prolonged blockades on the country\u2019s economy and employment. \u201cWorkers in the industrial sector are the first to suffer when orders stop coming in. The livelihood of thousands depends on uninterrupted trade,\u201d he added.
\nIn closing, FRIA urged for dialogue, responsible leadership, and immediate action to prevent further loss. \u201cIf exports stop, the economy suffers \u2014 and so do jobs, investment, and trust. We must act now, before the damage becomes irreversible,\u201d said Shahbaz Aslam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lahore The Ferozepur Road Industrial Association (FRIA) has expressed serious alarm over the continued suspension of export cargo movement due to protest blockades in Sindh, warning that industrial supply chains are under extreme stress and the country\u2019s exports are at grave risk. In a statement issued on Tuesday, FRIA Chairman Shahbaz Aslam said that the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421343,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-475532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n