Capital Blockade Disrupts Cargo Movement From Karachi Port

“Security preparations around Islamabad ahead of PTI’s October 4 march have disrupted cargo movement from Karachi Port, with transporters avoiding northbound routes over fears their vehicles may be seized.”

— Editorial Team

Key points

Security preparations around Islamabad ahead of PTI’s October 4 march have disrupted cargo movement from Karachi Port, with transporters avoiding northbound routes over fears their vehicles may be seized.
The delays have affected major routes, increased demurrage costs and added pressure to Pakistan’s already strained transport sector.

Business|By Editorial Team|Published 03-Oct-26|Latest update 10/3/2026, 2:39:00 AM|2 min read

Pakistan’s latest security measures around Islamabad have triggered a wider disruption in the country’s freight network, with shipping containers piling up at Karachi Port as transporters avoid northbound routes ahead of a planned opposition march on the capital.

The disruption is linked to preparations for the October 4 protest announced by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, which is demanding the release of its jailed founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. Containers have been placed or held for use as barricades around major entry points to Islamabad, creating uncertainty for truckers and cargo operators.

Transporters say many drivers are refusing to travel towards Punjab and Islamabad because of the risk that their vehicles or containers may be seized. The fear has slowed the movement of goods from Karachi, the country’s main trade gateway, towards several northern routes.

According to transport representatives cited in the report, police requisitioned more than 2,000 vehicles in September before the march. Many of those vehicles were reportedly carrying cargo and were held for days with little or no compensation, adding to losses for owners, drivers and shipping clients.

The impact is not limited to Islamabad. Routes to Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Peshawar and Attock have also been affected, while some transport operators have stopped journeys beyond Gujranwala or shifted to alternative routes. This has created delays across supply chains already under pressure from rising costs.

For transporters, the financial burden is mounting quickly. Daily demurrage charges on one seized container can reportedly reach Rs30,000 to Rs40,000, while missed deliveries and idle trucks add further losses. Operators say they are struggling to pay drivers, maintain fleets and meet obligations to international shippers.

The economic pressure comes as official inflation data shows transport costs rising sharply. Consumer prices increased 10.26 percent in September from a year earlier, while the transport price index climbed 27.43 percent, adding another layer of strain for businesses and households.

The political standoff has therefore become a logistics and business problem as well as a law-and-order issue. If the routes remain uncertain, transporters warn that their own protests could follow, while businesses dependent on timely cargo movement may face higher costs and further delays.

The immediate next step depends on whether authorities and transport representatives can reach a settlement on vehicle releases, compensation and movement guarantees before the planned march. Until then, the container blockade remains a pressure point for both the capital and the wider economy.