Goods transporters defer strike for 40 days as talks succeed

Negotiations between Pakistan Goods Transport Association and the federal and provincial governments have been successful on Sunday, as transporters declared that they will delay their nine-day nationwide wheel-jam strike for 40 days.

Pakistan's cargo system continued to remain paralyzed owing to the continuation of wheel jam strike by the goods transporters for a ninth day, resulting in disruption in movement of imports, exports and basic necessities and, as claimed by them, causing an economic loss worth more than Rs50 billion.

The transporters had demanded imposition of axle load policy, amendment in the customs SRO and withholding tax mechanism and daily determination of petrol rates along with other issues.

After reaching an agreement at a high level meeting presided over by Sindh Governor Syed Mohammad Nihal Hashmi at Governor House, the transporters decided to defer their strike.

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Sindh Minister for Labour, Human Resources and Social Security Saeed Ghani, Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, secretary communications, inspector general of motorway police, National Highway Authority chairman and other officials attended the meeting.

The delegation from the Pakistan Goods Transport Association was headed by their president Malik Shahzad Awan.

Expressing his views during a press conference held after the negotiations, Governor Hashmi said both the sides had listened to each other's points of view with “open hearts” and arrived at an understanding.

Both the sides, he added, had shown their willingness to make sacrifices in national interest, saying the area was witnessing unusual circumstances.

Communications Minister Khan thanked the Sindh governor and said the government was addressing the pending issues of the transporters.

He said some issues were sorted out at the meeting while committees were formed to sort out other issues.

“The strike is not being ended but deferred for 40 days,” he said, warning that the transporters would be within their constitutional right to resume protests if the government failed to fulfil its commitments.

Karachi Mayor Wahab said the Sindh government would address matters falling within its jurisdiction, while some demands required amendments to the law and others would be resolved in coordination with the Karachi Port Trust.

Wahab and Sindh Minister Ghani assured the transporters that the parking issue would be addressed.

The government has sought 15 days to resolve the issue of fixing petroleum product prices on a daily basis.

A committee will also be formed to address issues relating to toll taxes and 10-wheeler vehicles.