The Goods Transport Federation and wholesale dealers have launched a protest after containers, trucks, trailers and other heavy vehicles carrying food, dry fruits and essential goods were seized ahead of four long marches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Islamabad this week.
The detention of these vehicles has caused perishable goods, including fruit, vegetables, medicines, and other essential items, to begin spoiling, raising fears of losses worth millions of rupees for wholesale dealers. Meanwhile, container rental rates have also started to rise.
According to media reports, the supply of food and essential goods from Karachi, Faisalabad, and Sargodha to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been suspended. Sajid Khan, Vice President of the Wholesale Dealers Association, demanded that the government immediately stop further seizures and allow the goods, including vegetables, fruit, and dry fruits, to be unloaded from the impounded containers and heavy vehicles.
The Goods Transport Association has also sent letters to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Punjab regarding the seizure of the vehicles. Vice President Haji Iqbal said that they had been left with no option but to bring goods transportation operations to a complete halt.
The disruption has begun causing shortages of vegetables, fruits and other grocery items. Dealers warned that if the situation continues for another 72 hours, supplies of vegetables, fruits, pulses, sugar and flour coming from other districts could become scarce, pushing up prices.
The placement of containers at Faizabad, Rawat and other locations across the city has also disrupted the movement of sugar, flour, vegetables and fruits to other districts. Wholesale Dealers Association Vice President Sajid Khan said suppliers had stopped sending vegetables, fruits, meat and milk from Quetta, Karachi and Faisalabad to Rawalpindi and Islamabad following the seizure of their vehicles.
He called for the immediate release of nearly 1,000 containers and other vehicles, and urged authorities to allow perishable goods to be unloaded from the seized vehicles. He warned that food items could spoil and become unfit for consumption if they remain locked inside sealed containers for 72 hours.
Khan also urged authorities to allow containers carrying food items to enter the twin cities, with checks conducted at designated sale points if necessary. He warned that failure to restore supplies could result in prices rising by another 100% by the end of the week and could lead to shortages of essential commodities.