Textile Exports Face Risk as Transport Strike Disrupts Cotton Supplies

Pakistan’s textile industry has urged the government to immediately intervene in the ongoing goods transport strike, warning that a prolonged disruption could affect export shipments, cotton supplies and production at textile mills.

 

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) wrote to Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan after the All Pakistan Goods Transport Ittehad announced an indefinite strike from August 8.

 

APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad said the strike had disrupted the availability of containers and trucks needed to transport textile exports, imported cotton and locally purchased cotton to textile mills.

 

The association warned that mills were already holding limited cotton inventories as the season comes to an end. Any extended interruption in the movement of imported and domestic cotton could therefore affect manufacturing operations, textile exports, employment and Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings.

 

APTMA noted that similar transport disruptions in the past had caused delays in export consignments, financial losses and interruptions to mill operations, highlighting the potential economic impact of the current strike.

 

The association has called on the government to prioritise the movement of export cargo, imported raw materials and locally sourced cotton while efforts continue to resolve the dispute with transporters.

 

APTMA urged the Communications Ministry to take immediate measures to ensure the uninterrupted movement of essential industrial goods until the transport strike is settled, stressing that the textile sector remains one of Pakistan’s key sources of export earnings.