Shafaqna Pakistan: The government has assured goods transporters that their grievances will be addressed soon and invited their representatives to Islamabad for talks on Monday, as a nationwide strike over daily diesel price revisions and increased toll charges entered its second day.
The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance launched the strike on Saturday after negotiations with the government failed to yield a breakthrough. The stoppage has raised concerns over disruptions to domestic supply chains and exports, with Pakistan heavily dependent on road transport to move goods between ports, factories and markets.
Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, during a video-link meeting with alliance representatives on Saturday, assured them that all their “legitimate demands” would be addressed on a priority basis, according to a statement issued by his ministry.
“Problems faced by goods transporters will be resolved soon,” the minister was quoted as saying.
The minister invited a delegation of transporters to Islamabad on Monday for detailed discussions on their concerns.
The transporters have demanded that the government withdraw its decision to revise diesel prices daily and instead determine them on a monthly basis.
Pakistan previously revised petroleum prices every fortnight but moved to daily revisions amid volatility in global energy markets following the outbreak of the US-Iran war in February.
The alliance is also seeking restoration of toll rates that were in effect on June 1, 2024, a halt to further increases and a one-year ban on establishing new toll plazas.
It has demanded that a seven percent withholding tax imposed on goods transporters be reduced to two percent and called for uniform enforcement of axle-load regulations across the country, with overloading controlled at the point of origin.
Khan said the government would begin implementing its axle-load policy immediately and made clear that “not a single overloaded vehicle” would be allowed to enter motorways.
The minister said transporters had expressed support for the government’s axle-load policy and urged them to cooperate in protecting motorways and national highways from damage caused by excessive loads.
“If we do not sit together and discuss our issues, how can we move forward,” he said during the meeting, according to the ministry.
He also ordered the inspector general of the motorway police to act against corruption in the force, saying officials found taking bribes would be dismissed and face criminal cases.
Source: Dunya News
