Goods transporters across Pakistan have announced a protest against the recent increase in petroleum product prices, following an emergency meeting of leaders of petroleum and goods transport associations.
President of the Goods Transport Alliance, Malik Shahzad Awan, announced a 15% increase in transport fares, warning that a nationwide strike could be called within the next one to two days if their demands are not addressed.
Awan said repeated hikes in diesel prices and what he termed ineffective government policies were pushing transport businesses towards closure.
He criticized authorities for failing to address the sector’s challenges and called on chambers of commerce and industry bodies to help resolve the crisis.
The transporters’ leader demanded the immediate withdrawal of increases in toll taxes and withholding taxes, along with reductions in motorway charges and traffic fines. He said transporters had repeatedly sought relief from federal and provincial governments but had received no effective response.
Awan added that the transport sector was continuing operations despite financial losses in the national interest, but warned that ongoing economic and security challenges had severely affected the industry.
