KARACHI: Goods transporters have announced an indefinite nationwide strike from today after negotiations with the federal and Sindh governments failed to resolve their longstanding demands.
President of the All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance, Malik Shahzad Awan, said negotiations held on Friday with representatives of both governments ended without any agreement. He accused the federal and Sindh governments of failing to take the transporters’ concerns seriously and said the alliance would proceed with its decision to launch a countrywide strike from Saturday, August 8.
According to Awan, the strike will continue for an indefinite period unless the transporters’ demands are addressed.
Representatives of the federal government, including the federal minister for communications, the communications secretary, the chairman of the National Highways Authority and the inspector general of the motorway police, participated in the negotiations.
The Sindh government was represented by the Karachi commissioner, secretary for transport, secretary for excise, deputy inspector general of traffic, deputy inspector general of driving licences, as well as officials from the Pakistan Transport Authority and Regional Transport Authority.
Despite the participation of senior officials from both the federal and provincial governments, the meetings failed to produce a solution to the longstanding demands raised by the goods transporters.
Awan said the transporters had been left with no option but to begin their nationwide strike after the authorities failed to provide a satisfactory resolution to their concerns.
The indefinite strike could affect the movement of goods across the country, potentially disrupting supply chains and the transportation of essential commodities if it continues for an extended period.
The transporters’ alliance has maintained that the strike will remain in place until meaningful steps are taken to resolve their demands.
