Road protests in Sindh threaten fuel, exports: trade bodies

KARACHI: The trade and business community has called on the federal and Sindh governments to end road blockades and sit-ins in Sukkur and Larkana, warning that the disruptions have halted goods transport and may soon affect fuel supplies across the province.

The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), in a letter to the Sindh chief secretary, urged immediate intervention in light of the ongoing road blockades, particularly in the Sukkur-Larkana region. According to information received from industry members, around 800 tank lorries are currently stranded en-route, severely affecting the industry’s ability to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies to upcountry locations and retail outlets within Sindh.

While the OCAC said that fuel stocks remain adequate, it stressed that the prevailing blockades and lack of safe alternative routes are causing delivery delays and could result in fuel shortages across the province.

Given the urgency of the situation, the OCAC requested the chief secretary to engage the local administration and issue necessary directives to ensure the security and safe passage of tank lorries throughout Sindh.

Meanwhile, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Jawed Bilwani expressed deep concern over the ongoing sit-ins and road blockades near Babarloi town in Khairpur. He said the situation has brought vehicular movement on the National Highway to a complete standstill, severely disrupting the transport of goods across Sindh and to other provinces.

While acknowledging the constitutional right to peaceful protest, Bilwani stressed that prolonged blockades of key trade routes -- especially those used for inter-city cargo and exports -- have inflicted serious losses on the business community. He noted that the disruption is particularly harmful to time-sensitive export consignments, including perishable goods.

“The entire supply chain stands paralysed due to the road closures and sit-ins, with long queues of containers and commercial vehicles stranded at Rohri, Ali Wahan, and other critical arteries,” he said. “This has not only disrupted internal trade but also jeopardised Pakistan’s export commitments and damaged its credibility in global markets.”

Bilwani emphasised that while the grievances of protesters should be addressed through dialogue and mutual respect, the government has a duty to ensure that national economic activity continues. “The situation is not only hurting businesses and industries but also threatening employment and trade at a time when the country is already grappling with serious economic challenges,” he added.

He urged both the federal and provincial governments to take swift action to facilitate negotiations with protest leaders, restore traffic flow on the National Highway, and protect the movement of commercial goods and export cargo to avoid further economic damage. “The economic repercussions of this blockade are escalating by the hour. We appeal for an immediate resolution in the interest of the economy and the public at large,” he concluded.

The sit-in, initiated by the Karachi Bar Association and supported by the Sindh High Court Bar Association, has drawn participation from nationalist groups and civil society. The protest is in response to the federal government’s controversial plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River.