APBUMA Chairman Voices Concerns Over Sindh Protests Impacting Trade

FAISALABAD: Imran Mehmood Sheikh, the Central Chairman of APBUMA, has voiced strong apprehension regarding the interruption of import and export shipments in Sindh. This disruption is a consequence of the intense demonstrations concerning canal issues.

He emphasized that the practice of blocking roads presents a significant risk to exporters. Their shipments face delays in reaching ports, potentially causing them to miss scheduled departures. Sheikh stated that “such significant delays could damage our standing in international markets, leading to potential cancellations of export orders from global buyers.”

He warned that the current blockages could severely impact the export of perishable goods, such as fresh produce. According to Sheikh, “in certain areas, aggressive groups are reportedly damaging vehicles that have been forced to seek shelter at roadside establishments for the past week.”

He further added, “This situation is damaging not only to the government but also to the citizens of Pakistan.”

Sheikh has urgently appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and, in particular, to the Chief Minister of Sindh, requesting them to acknowledge the severity of the situation. He urged them to take immediate action to restore vehicular traffic on all roads throughout the Sindh province.

Additionally, he has implored the government to address the canal dispute through peaceful negotiations. He also called for decisive action against individuals attempting to undermine national interests by instigating violent protests.