Containers to stay off roads as transporters remain divided

Pakistan transporters suspended a nationwide wheel-jam strike on Friday after reaching an agreement with the government, but major operators – including container trailers, trucks and edible oil tankers – remained off the roads, prolonging disruptions to port operations and external trade. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had granted key demands of fuel oil tankers, leading their association to dissociate itself from the strike.

Malik Shoaib Ashraf, General Secretary of the Oil Tankers Contractors Association, informed that the 7-8 percent increase in freight charges, delayed for three years, was expected to take effect next week. The Pakistan Transport Council, a component of the All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance, declared earlier that their strike was called off following successful negotiations with the government.

They highlighted that movement of their carriers was being restored across the country, particularly from Karachi Port and Port Qasim. The council emphasized that eight of their immediate demands had been accepted, and committees had been established to tackle the remaining issues. They also mentioned an agreement for the immediate release of vehicles detained under SRO 1619.

However, All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association President Muhammad Owais Choudhry stated that only a segment of the Alliance had ended the strike, as their core demands for container trailers and trucks were still unmet. He alleged that the government was employing political tactics to buy time, promising to discuss the situation in a meeting with the striking transporters at the communications ministry on Saturday.