The All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance declared an indefinite strike starting August 8, warning that operations will remain suspended until their demands are accepted by the federal and provincial governments.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday, Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan said transport associations across the country had unanimously agreed to continue the strike until their charter of demands was approved.
He went further to demand the resignation of Petroleum Minister Pervaiz Ali Malik, accusing the government of failing to provide relief to the sector.
The transporters’ demands include ending the daily determination of petroleum product prices and fixing them on a monthly basis, as well as withdrawing recent increases.
They also called for an immediate rollback of the hike in toll tax, bringing it back to the level of June 30, 2024. Awan stressed that the seven per cent withholding tax imposed on the goods transport sector should be abolished and reduced to two per cent, in line with oil tankers, while axle load laws must be strictly enforced to curb overloading.
The Alliance further demanded the abolition of Customs’ SRO 1619/2024, issuance of HTV licenses after proper testing, and provision of parking facilities for heavy vehicles near Karachi Port and Port Qasim.
Awan highlighted that incidents of transporters’ vehicles being set ablaze in Balochistan were deeply concerning, urging immediate steps to improve law and order.
Transporters also rejected the ban on 20‑year‑old vehicles and the imposition of Rs9.7 million diyat in case of road accidents, calling for their withdrawal. They condemned what they termed “extortion” in the name of third‑party insurance during vehicle registration in Sindh, demanding an end to the practice.
