The President of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, Malik Shehzad Awan, has announced a three percent increase in freight charges across the country following the recent hike in petroleum prices.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, Malik Shehzad Awan strongly criticized the federal government’s decision to raise fuel prices, calling it condemnable and burdensome for the public. He said the increase in petroleum prices directly impacts the transport sector, leading to higher operational costs and making an increase in freight fares unavoidable.
He maintained that transporters are under severe pressure due to the policies of the federal and Punjab governments. According to him, the rising fuel costs have significantly affected transport operations, leaving transporters with no option but to pass on part of the burden through higher freight charges.
Malik Shehzad Awan alleged that both federal and provincial authorities were sidelining the transport community instead of addressing their longstanding concerns. He claimed that agreements reached during a previous nationwide strike with the federal minister for ports and shipping and the federal minister for communications have yet to be implemented.
He further said that commitments made by Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and the provincial transport minister on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also remain unfulfilled.
Warning of further action, he said that if the government fails to implement the agreed measures immediately, transporters will once again stage a peaceful nationwide strike, holding the federal and provincial governments responsible for any disruption.
The alliance president urged the federal, Punjab and Sindh governments to honor the agreements reached during the previous strike to help resolve the issues faced by the transport sector and avoid further escalation.
