Cargo Piles Up as Container Seizures Disrupt Pakistan Transport

Transporters say they fear their vehicles could be seized and containers used to barricade roads leading into Islamabad, prompting many drivers to suspend journeys towards northern parts of the country.

“Right now, going toward Punjab is like committing suicide,” said 35-year-old driver Javid ur Rehman, who has stopped taking such trips.

“The police seize the vehicles and snatch the containers, and then we are left distressed,” he said.

Steel shipping containers, some filled with sand and welded together, have been positioned along routes into Islamabad as authorities prepare for the PTI march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

The march was originally scheduled for September 27 before being postponed to October 4.

Rana Mohammad Aslam, president of the Karachi Goods Carrier Association, criticised the use of commercial containers for blocking protests.

“This is not the way to stop protests,” he said, adding that authorities began stopping vehicles around September 5.

According to transporters cited in the report, police requisitioned more than 2,000 vehicles during September ahead of the planned march. Many were allegedly carrying cargo and remained held for days with little or no compensation.

The reluctance of operators to send vehicles north has consequently contributed to a buildup of containers at Karachi, Pakistan’s main trade gateway.

Aslam said transportation had been affected on routes serving Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Peshawar and Attock. Some operators were reportedly refusing to travel beyond Gujranwala, while others were using alternative routes.

Transporters say the disruption is causing substantial financial losses.

According to Aslam, daily demurrage charges on a single seized container can reach between Rs30,000 and Rs40,000, in addition to losses caused by missed deliveries and idle vehicles.

Operators are also struggling with payments to drivers and fleet maintenance, while international shipping companies continue to demand payment regardless of the reasons behind delays, he said.

Aslam said discussions were underway to find a solution but warned that transporters could stage their own protest if their grievances remained unresolved.

For some drivers, the risk of seizure is already enough to stop operations.

Pervaiz Khan, 50, said his vehicle carrying chemicals remained parked in Karachi despite being ready for departure.

“Right now, my vehicle is loaded but I am not going,” he said. “We depart from Sindh, and the moment we enter Punjab, that’s when our troubles begin.”

Drivers stranded near Islamabad also expressed concern over the loss of income.

“If the roads open, our children’s livelihood will open up,” said driver Sagheer Ahmed. “If not, we will just keep standing.”

The disruption comes as goods transporters face rising operating costs and growing concerns over the financial consequences of vehicles and containers being requisitioned during political protests.

The Financial Daily — Pakistan’s most comprehensive financial newspaper and financial news website, published simultaneously from Karachi and Lahore.