KARACHI: The Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance has urged the government to review a decision to change the prices of petroleum products on a daily basis, saying the move is placing an unsustainable burden on the transport industry.
In a meeting with Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi the other day, the Alliance’s President, Malik Shahzad Awan, apprised the provincial leadership of the escalating problems currently being faced by transporters across the country. Awan said that frequent daily revisions in fuel prices are driving up operational costs and severely disrupting the industry’s ability to plan routes and manage expenses.
Speaking to the Governor, Awan said the pricing mechanism should be adjusted with an interval of at least 15 days or one month instead of being reviewed daily. He also called for targeted relief measures, including concessions in toll taxes, withholding and other levies, arguing that such steps are essential to prevent further financial strain on transporters.
Awan further demanded that the agreement reached during the nationwide strike in December be implemented in full, despite the challenging circumstances and losses experienced by the sector.
He added that transport vehicles are continuing to operate in the wider national interest, even as uncertainty over costs persists.
Responding to the Alliance’s concerns, Governor Sindh Nehal Hashmi said the transport sector should stand alongside the federal government as it takes difficult economic decisions. The Governor listened carefully to the issues raised by Malik Shahzad Awan and assured him that every possible effort would be made to address the problems and work toward practical solutions.
