Goods transporters to continue strike as negotiations with govt end without resolution

Federal government negotiations with the All Pakistan Goods Transport Itehad concluded on Tuesday without reaching a resolution, leaving the transporters' demands unresolved. The strike, announced by the goods transporters on Saturday, was over the daily setting of petrol and diesel prices, among other concerns. The talks took place at the Ministry of Communications in Islamabad and addressed the transporters' major demands in detail.

Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan pledged the government's full cooperation in addressing the transporters' concerns. However, the meeting ended without any agreement or formal acceptance of the demands, leading the transporters to announce that their nationwide wheel-jam strike would persist until their demands were acknowledged.

Muhammad Owais Chaudhry, the transporters' association spokesman, stated that they would not abandon their "legitimate and legal" demands. He affirmed their readiness for further negotiations with the government, but emphasized that the nationwide wheel-jam strike would continue until their demands were practically accepted. Chaudhry announced that the transporters were moving their main protest camp to Karachi, indicating that the ministers and other authorities would need to travel to the city for additional discussions.

The transporters' principal demands comprised the consistent and uniform application of the legally established axle-load limit, relief from taxes, a monthly revision of diesel prices rather than frequent fluctuations, and the resolution of other issues plaguing the goods transport sector. Chaudhry assured that the doors for negotiations remained open, as the transporters sought a peaceful resolution to their grievances.

Nonetheless, he stressed that the strike would not be lifted until the government endorsed their demands, reiterating, "The wheel-jam strike will continue until our demands are accepted."