Goods transporters begin indefinite strike over fuel prices, daily rate revisions

• Govt invites transporters for Monday talks.
• Transporters oppose daily fuel price revisions.
• Transport alliance demands tax and toll relief.

Goods transporters launched an indefinite nationwide strike on Saturday against rising fuel costs, daily diesel price adjustments and a range of taxation and regulatory measures they say are increasing the burden on the transport sector.

Speaking to Geo News, All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan said freight operators had suspended services nationwide and would continue the strike until further notice.

The federal government, he said, had invited representatives of the alliance for talks on Monday in an effort to resolve the dispute.

He added that the transporters had formed a committee to represent the alliance during negotiations with government officials.

The alliance said the strike would continue until the outcome of the meeting was reviewed and a future course of action announced.

Awan added that earlier negotiations between transporters and government representatives at the Commissioner's Office had failed to produce a breakthrough.

Among their key demands, the transporters had called for a reduction in taxes on diesel and sought the restoration of fuel prices to their July 1, 2024 level.

Opposing the daily adjustment of diesel prices, the transporters demanded that fuel prices be revised on a fortnightly or monthly basis to provide better predictability for transport operators.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) now publishes daily fuel prices on its website, while rates are determined using a seven-day average of international benchmark prices, according to Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.

The government adopted the daily review mechanism following heightened volatility in international oil markets linked to tensions in the Middle East.

The goods transporters also demanded that the withholding tax on cargo transporters be reduced from 7% to 2%, arguing that oil tanker operators were already paying the lower rate.

The transporters objected to customs enforcement measures under which vehicles carrying non-duty-paid goods may be confiscated by authorities.

They also called for a simplified procedure for obtaining heavy transport vehicle driving licences and demanded a reduction in toll taxes imposed on the sector.

Ministers' resignations demanded

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club today, Awan said goods transport operations across the country are coming to a halt as part of the alliance's ongoing protest.

He accused the federal and provincial governments of failing to implement the alliance's charter of demands. He maintained that all of the transporters' demands were constitutional and legitimate.

adding that transporters were staging a peaceful protest by parking their vehicles rather than blocking roads. Awan said road closures caused inconvenience to the public and the alliance did not want to create difficulties for citizens.

The transport leader called for the resignation of Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, alleging that commitments made to transporters had not been honoured.

Awan claimed that a single trailer was paying as much as Rs2.4 million in toll taxes and said transporters were also paying separate taxes on petroleum products.

He said the government was not serious about negotiations, adding that he would not personally participate in talks with the government, and that a team had been constituted to hold talks with the government.

According to Awan, the strike would be called off once the government issued a formal notification for talks.