ISLAMABAD: Goods transporters have announced a 20% increase in freight fares across the country following a sharp rise in petroleum prices.
President of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, Malik Shehzad Awan, strongly reacted to the increase in fuel prices and said that the decision was necessary due to rising operational costs.
According to him, diesel prices have increased by Rs78 per litre and petrol by Rs68 per litre over the past two months, significantly raising expenses for transport operators.
He stated that if the increase in petroleum prices was unavoidable, the federal government should reduce toll taxes and other levies to provide relief to transporters.
Awan added that despite the country’s fragile economic situation, transporters have continued to support import, export, and business activities, but the continuous rise in fuel prices affects not only transporters but also the general public, triggering a new wave of inflation.
He also said that transporters were previously forced to hold a 10-day nationwide strike due to government policies. Agreements made with Punjab’s Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb and Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar during the strike have still not been implemented.
According to him, promises made by Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan have also not been fulfilled.
The alliance urged the federal, Punjab, and Sindh governments to immediately implement agreements made with transporters. Otherwise, they warned that transport operations across Pakistan could be suspended, for which they said the federal government would be responsible.
