Pakistan’s Nationwide Goods Transporters’ Strike Set to Begin Saturday
Goods transporters and oil tanker unions in Pakistan have announced a nationwide strike starting Saturday after talks with government officials failed to reach an agreement. This move could disrupt the transportation of goods and commercial activities across the country.
Muhammad Owais Chaudhry, spokesperson for the National Goods Transporters Union and president of the Goods Transport Vehicle Owners Association, stated that negotiations with Aliam Khan, Pakistan’s Minister of Communications, and other officials ended without resolution.
According to Chaudhry, goods transporters, edible oil and fuel tanker drivers, lorry drivers, trailer drivers, and other intercity transport vehicles will suspend their services. He emphasized that the strike is not symbolic and will continue until their demands are met. He added that some vehicles have already been withdrawn from the roads and parked at designated locations.
The unions have outlined several demands, including the uniform enforcement of axle weight limits for vehicles across Pakistan, reduction of diesel prices and road taxes, lowering of withholding taxes, cancellation of some customs regulations related to vehicle seizures, limitation of penalties on commercial vehicles, and facilitation of issuing licenses for heavy vehicle drivers.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Minister of Communications has promised to review these demands and scheduled a new round of talks for Monday morning. However, the transporters’ union has stressed that the strike will continue until an agreement is reached.
