ISLAMABAD: President of the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association, Muhammad Owais Chaudhry Advocate, has rejected the latest increase in diesel prices and urged the government to immediately halt the repeated hikes, warning that the additional burden is ultimately passed on to transporters and consumers.
Chaudhry said the government was already collecting more than Rs100 per litre in taxes and duties on diesel, making further increases difficult to justify.
He called for an immediate review of the taxes and duties imposed on diesel to provide relief to the transport sector and the general public.
He said higher diesel prices were not merely a concern for transporters, as increased fuel costs directly affect freight and cargo charges, industry and trade, and eventually increase the financial burden on ordinary consumers.
According to Chaudhry, frequent changes in fuel prices are also creating uncertainty for the business community and making it difficult for transporters and other sectors to plan their operations.
He pointed out that under a written agreement with goods transporters, petroleum product prices should be reviewed every 15 days.
He urged the government to introduce a formal fortnightly pricing mechanism instead of making frequent or daily adjustments to fuel prices.
Chaudhry said stabilising diesel prices should be considered an effective measure to control inflation. He urged the government to support the transport sector, which plays a vital role in keeping the economy moving, rather than imposing additional financial pressure on transporters and consumers.
