The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has called for urgent government intervention to resolve an indefinite goods transport strike that began on August 8, warning that the disruption could severely affect Pakistan’s textile industry, export shipments, employment and foreign exchange earnings.
In a post on X, APTMA said the All Pakistan Goods Transport Itehad had announced the indefinite strike from August 8, 2026. The association said the stoppage has disrupted the movement of goods needed by textile mills and has created difficulties for the transportation of export containers, imported cotton containers and trucks carrying locally sourced cotton.
According to APTMA, the transport disruption is affecting several stages of the textile supply chain. Export containers are facing difficulties in reaching their destinations, while imported cotton arriving through ports is also facing transportation constraints. At the same time, trucks used to transport locally available cotton from markets to textile mills have become unavailable. The association said the situation is particularly concerning because textile mills are already operating under pressure. Cotton inventories at mills are also low as the season comes to an end, increasing the importance of maintaining the regular movement of both imported and locally sourced cotton to manufacturing facilities.
APTMA warned that a prolonged interruption in cotton transportation could directly affect textile production. If imported cotton and locally sourced cotton are unable to reach mills on time, manufacturers could face shortages of raw material, potentially forcing disruptions to production activity.
Such disruptions could also affect Pakistan’s export commitments. The textile sector is a major component of the country’s export activity, and delays in the movement of export containers could result in shipments being held up. APTMA cautioned that continued disruption could therefore have consequences for exporters, workers and the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
The association also pointed to the impact that similar disruptions have had in the past. According to APTMA, previous interruptions in cargo movement resulted in delays to export shipments, financial losses for businesses and interruptions to the operations of textile mills. The latest transport strike has therefore created concerns across the textile supply chain, from the movement of cotton from ports and local markets to the transportation of finished goods for export. The association has urged the government to treat the issue as a priority and work towards an early resolution of the strike.
APTMA requested that the movement of export cargo, imported raw materials and locally sourced cotton be facilitated on a priority basis. The association said uninterrupted transportation is necessary to maintain industrial activity and prevent further pressure on textile manufacturers. The association’s appeal comes at a time when Pakistan’s textile industry is already facing pressure and depends on reliable transportation networks to maintain production and fulfil export orders. Any extended disruption in the supply chain could increase operational difficulties for mills and exporters.
APTMA has therefore asked the government to intervene urgently and facilitate the movement of essential cargo while efforts continue to resolve the transport dispute. The association said priority movement of export shipments, imported raw materials and local cotton would help limit the impact of the strike on industrial activity. The outcome of the transport strike and the speed of its resolution will remain important for textile manufacturers, exporters and workers, particularly as mills manage low cotton inventories and ongoing export requirements. A prolonged disruption could place further pressure on production and the movement of Pakistan’s textile exports.
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