Much-awaited talks between the federal government and representatives of goods transporters started in Islamabad and Karachi simultaneously on Monday as the strike entered the third day, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The government delegation was headed by Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and also included Federal Minister for Power Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Minister for Port and Shipping Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and other high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Finance.
All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan, Malik Sher Khan, Nadeem Akhtar Arain, and other office bearers are participating in the meeting from Islamabad, and Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, Malik Shabbar Khan, Nisar Hussain Jafri, and Imdad Hussain Naqvi participated from Islamabad.
Strike enters its third day
The process of loading and unloading merchandise at ports was badly affected as the ongoing strike of goods transporters entered its third day on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The government has said issues facing goods transporters will be resolved soon and invited their representatives for talks in Islamabad today.
The All-Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance began the strike on Saturday after talks with the government failed to produce a breakthrough, threatening disruptions to domestic supply chains and exports in a country that relies heavily on road freight to move goods between ports, factories and markets.
Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan assured the representatives of the alliance during a video-link meeting on Saturday that all their “legitimate demands” would be addressed on a priority basis.
The transporters have demanded that the government withdraw its decision to revise diesel prices daily and instead determine them on a monthly basis.
Pakistan previously revised petroleum prices every fortnight but moved to daily revisions amid volatility in global energy markets following the outbreak of the US-Iran war in February.
The alliance is also seeking restoration of toll rates that were in effect on June 1, 2024, a halt to further increases and a one-year ban on establishing new toll plazas.
It has demanded that a seven percent withholding tax imposed on goods transporters be reduced to two percent and called for uniform enforcement of axle-load regulations across the country, with overloading controlled at the point of origin.
Aleem Khan said the government would begin implementing its axle-load policy immediately and made clear that “not a single overloaded vehicle” would be allowed to enter motorways.
“If we do not sit together and discuss our issues, how can we move forward?” he said during the meeting, according to the ministry.
He also ordered the inspector general of the motorway police to act against corruption in the force, saying officials found taking bribes would be dismissed and face criminal cases.
Reporter: Basim Iftikhar