Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KARACHI497
2008-08-27 08:54:00
SECRET
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:
SINDH - KARACHI TRANSPORTERS STRIKE EXPOSES
how-toVZCZCXRO9485 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHKP #0497 2400854 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 270854Z AUG 08 FM AMCONSUL KARACHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0608 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0076 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0182 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2571 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4454 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUFJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
S E C R E T KARACHI 000497
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2023
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ELTN ETRD PTER PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - KARACHI TRANSPORTERS STRIKE EXPOSES
VULNERABILITIES
REF: A. A: KARACHI 491
B. B: KARACHI 490
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CONSUL GENERAL KAY ANSKE, REASONS 1.4 (b)
AND (d).
S E C R E T KARACHI 000497
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2023
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ELTN ETRD PTER PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - KARACHI TRANSPORTERS STRIKE EXPOSES
VULNERABILITIES
REF: A. A: KARACHI 491
B. B: KARACHI 490
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CONSUL GENERAL KAY ANSKE, REASONS 1.4 (b)
AND (d).
1. (S) Noor Khan Niazi, newly elected President of the
Karachi Goods Transport Ittehad (KGTI),told EconOff on
August 26 that his union had reached an agreement with the
GOP and called off a long-haul truckers strike that had
threatened to stall USG goods shipments to Afghanistan
(reftel A). According to shipping company officials, the
strike, which began on August 18, left 615 containers, eight
humvees, and one large military transport sitting in
Karachi's two ports, unable to move. The last shipment out
to Afghanistan from Karachi went by rail on August 23.
Theoretically, goods should begin to move again soon.
2. (S) The work stoppage underscored the dependence on
domestic conditions in Pakistan of the supply lines from
Karachi to the war effort in Afghanistan. Among the
strikers' demands were relief from rising fuel and toll
prices and reparations for damages incurred during the riots
that occurred after the assassination of former Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007.
3. (S) Shipments bound for Afghanistan, around a total of
700 containers a week, normally arrive at either Karachi Port
or Port Qasim (a Karachi suburb) and are transferred via
truck to either Bagram, Khandahar or Kabul in Afghanistan.
When the strike began, one of three USG contract carriers,
Maersk Sealand, began to use railways to transport shipments
in lieu of trucks. However, this route became unavailable to
the company on August 23 because other businesses had
reserved all vacant space for their commercial shipments.
Strikers reportedly threatened to burn trucks and kill
drivers who attempted to break the picket lines.
4. (S) American President Lines (APL),the only USG
contracted shipping company to operate out of Karachi Port,
reported 425 containers, eight humvees and one large military
transport vehicle stalled at the port. Maersk Sealand, which
reported 187 stranded containers at Port Qasim, got word of
the strike early and shipped all waiting stock out the day
before the strike. Otherwise, the company would have had a
larger backlog. Happag Lloyd, the third USG contract
carrier, noted three containers stalled at Port Qasim. On
August 25, unknown assailants attacked two USG humvees,
setting one on fire, that were loaded on a transport idled by
the strike (reftel B).
5. (S) Comment: The long-haul truckers strike went on
longer than originally anticipated by business leaders and
many complained about GOP lack of attention to the stoppage
or efforts to resolve it. According to post sources,
provincial authorities did not hear of the strike until the
evening of the fourth day. The continuing instability of the
GOP could hamper its ability to focus attention on serious
domestic issues, such as the strike, leaving USG supply lines
potentially vulnerable.
Anske
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2023
TAGS: PGOV ELAB ELTN ETRD PTER PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - KARACHI TRANSPORTERS STRIKE EXPOSES
VULNERABILITIES
REF: A. A: KARACHI 491
B. B: KARACHI 490
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CONSUL GENERAL KAY ANSKE, REASONS 1.4 (b)
AND (d).
1. (S) Noor Khan Niazi, newly elected President of the
Karachi Goods Transport Ittehad (KGTI),told EconOff on
August 26 that his union had reached an agreement with the
GOP and called off a long-haul truckers strike that had
threatened to stall USG goods shipments to Afghanistan
(reftel A). According to shipping company officials, the
strike, which began on August 18, left 615 containers, eight
humvees, and one large military transport sitting in
Karachi's two ports, unable to move. The last shipment out
to Afghanistan from Karachi went by rail on August 23.
Theoretically, goods should begin to move again soon.
2. (S) The work stoppage underscored the dependence on
domestic conditions in Pakistan of the supply lines from
Karachi to the war effort in Afghanistan. Among the
strikers' demands were relief from rising fuel and toll
prices and reparations for damages incurred during the riots
that occurred after the assassination of former Prime
Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007.
3. (S) Shipments bound for Afghanistan, around a total of
700 containers a week, normally arrive at either Karachi Port
or Port Qasim (a Karachi suburb) and are transferred via
truck to either Bagram, Khandahar or Kabul in Afghanistan.
When the strike began, one of three USG contract carriers,
Maersk Sealand, began to use railways to transport shipments
in lieu of trucks. However, this route became unavailable to
the company on August 23 because other businesses had
reserved all vacant space for their commercial shipments.
Strikers reportedly threatened to burn trucks and kill
drivers who attempted to break the picket lines.
4. (S) American President Lines (APL),the only USG
contracted shipping company to operate out of Karachi Port,
reported 425 containers, eight humvees and one large military
transport vehicle stalled at the port. Maersk Sealand, which
reported 187 stranded containers at Port Qasim, got word of
the strike early and shipped all waiting stock out the day
before the strike. Otherwise, the company would have had a
larger backlog. Happag Lloyd, the third USG contract
carrier, noted three containers stalled at Port Qasim. On
August 25, unknown assailants attacked two USG humvees,
setting one on fire, that were loaded on a transport idled by
the strike (reftel B).
5. (S) Comment: The long-haul truckers strike went on
longer than originally anticipated by business leaders and
many complained about GOP lack of attention to the stoppage
or efforts to resolve it. According to post sources,
provincial authorities did not hear of the strike until the
evening of the fourth day. The continuing instability of the
GOP could hamper its ability to focus attention on serious
domestic issues, such as the strike, leaving USG supply lines
potentially vulnerable.
Anske