Key facts
- Pakistan's government is seizing trucks and containers to block routes to the capital, Islamabad.
- The action is intended to prevent supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan from reaching the city for a planned Oct. 4 march.
- Truckers are refusing to drive north, fearing their vehicles will be seized and used as barricades.
- This has led to a significant pileup of shipping containers at Pakistan's main port in Karachi.
- Daily demurrage charges on seized containers can range from 30,000 to 40,000 Pakistani rupees ($110-$150).
Pakistan's government is using shipping containers and requisitioned vehicles to block key routes into the capital, Islamabad, in an effort to prevent supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan from participating in a planned march. This tactic has led to a significant backlog of cargo at the port of Karachi, as truckers refuse to drive north due to fear of their vehicles being seized.
Truckers like Javid ur Rehman and Pervaiz Khan are halting journeys, citing the risk of their vehicles being confiscated and used for barricades, as well as the mounting costs associated with seized cargo, including daily demurrage charges that can reach 30,000 to 40,000 Pakistani rupees ($110-$150). The Karachi Goods Carrier association president, Rana Mohammad Aslam, stated that authorities began stopping vehicles around September 5, weeks before the originally scheduled march.
Khan, a former cricket star, was jailed in 2023 and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), faces state scrutiny that has suppressed previous protests. The disruption is affecting routes to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Peshawar, and Attock. Some operators have stopped journeys beyond Gujranwala, while others are seeking alternative routes. The rising cost of transport, with the price index climbing 27.43% in September, exacerbates the financial strain on operators who are struggling to pay drivers and maintain their fleets while international shippers still expect timely deliveries.