KARACHI: Pakistan’s already struggling export sector has been dealt another blow as ongoing highway protests have stranded 250 containers of potatoes at Sindh’s entry points. The containers, destined for ports to fulfill international orders, are now at risk of spoilage, threatening millions in losses.
The disruption comes on the heels of a recent goods transporters’ strike, which had only just begun to ease before fresh sit-ins blocked major routes. Exporters now face shipment delays to key markets in the Middle East and Far East, where time-sensitive orders are under threat.
“These are refrigerated containers that require constant temperature control,” said Waheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association. “If they don’t reach the ports in time, there is a serious risk that the entire stock could be lost.”
The delay could lead to a direct loss of at least $1.5 million, and the fallout may extend beyond exporters to local farmers, who supply the produce under tight schedules and price agreements. If international buyers cancel the delayed orders, the ripple effects could impact Pakistan’s agricultural economy.
Ahmed urged the Sindh government and local authorities to immediately intervene and ensure the safe and timely passage of export containers to the port terminals. “It is not just an issue of trade, but of livelihoods across the supply chain,” he emphasized.
The incident adds to growing concerns about Pakistan’s logistics and infrastructure reliability, particularly in the perishable goods sector, which depends on consistent and timely transportation.
