Karachi: The All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance has announced an indefinite nationwide strike from August 8, stating that the protest will continue until their demands are accepted.
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan said that transport associations across Pakistan would jointly continue the strike until their demands are approved. He also demanded the resignation of Petroleum Minister Parvez Ali Malik.
He said that a charter of demands has been presented to both federal and provincial governments, and the strike will continue if those demands are not addressed.
The major demands of the transport sector include ending the practice of setting petroleum product prices on a daily basis and shifting to a monthly pricing mechanism. They also demanded the withdrawal of the recent fuel price increase.
The transporters demanded that the increase in toll taxes be immediately reversed and brought back to the level of June 30, 2024.
Malik Shehzad Awan said the 7 percent withholding tax imposed on the goods transport sector should be reduced to 2 percent, similar to oil tankers. He also demanded strict and uniform implementation of axle load laws and complete prevention of overloading.
The alliance further demanded the withdrawal of Customs SRO 2024/1619, issuance of Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) licenses after proper testing of drivers, and provision of parking facilities for transport vehicles near Karachi Port Qasim.
Expressing concern over incidents of vehicles being set on fire in Balochistan, Malik Shehzad Awan called for immediate measures to improve the law and order situation.
He also demanded the withdrawal of the law banning vehicles older than 20 years and the provision requiring payment of Rs. 9.7 million in case of road accident deaths.
Additionally, the alliance called for an end to alleged extortion in Sindh under the name of third-party insurance during vehicle registration.
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