LAHORE: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Wednesday urged government to address transporters’ concerns promptly.
In a joint statement, LCCI office-bearers including President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol, Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, and Vice President Khurram Lodhi said here that sudden changes in laws and fines create uncertainty among the business community, which is not investor-friendly. Stakeholder consultation is essential in policy-making. When stakeholders are ignored, complex situations arise—like the ongoing national crisis. They urged the government to continue negotiations with transporter representatives and take their concerns seriously.
LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said that due to the nationwide strike by goods and public transporters, the supply of food items, industrial raw materials, and other essential goods has been severely affected.
In various cities, he added, trucks and containers parked at terminals have brought business activities to a standstill, while citizens are facing serious difficulties in travel. The disruption in the supply chain has also increased the risk of rising prices in the markets.
Saigol expressed concern over the situation caused by the countrywide strike. He said that the transport sector is the backbone of the economy. When the supply of goods stops, not only does the availability of food items get affected, but industrial production, exports, and business continuity also suffer badly.
He stated that it is the government’s responsibility to urgently resolve the genuine concerns of transporters so that the supply chain can be restored and the public can get relief.
The leadership of the Lahore Chamber has also made a practical offer to help end this crisis. The President, Senior Vice President and Vice President said that the Lahore Chamber is ready to act as a mediator between the government and transporters so that problems can be resolved through dialogue and the economy does not suffer further damage.
The LCCI leadership stressed that the government must review the traffic ordinance and ensure that all decisions are taken in consultation with the transport sector. They said that timely action is necessary to restore the supply system, facilitate public travel, and prevent further economic losses. The Chamber expressed hope that all issues will soon be resolved through dialogue, and business activities will return to normal.
They said that strike is delaying export shipments, disrupting production lines in factories, and causing severe distress to the business community. If the situation continues, inflation and business losses will further increase. They stated that the government and the transport alliance must adopt a joint strategy to prevent the crisis from worsening.
