Strike by goods transporters may end today as they, govt agree on majority of points

Prospects of a wheel-jam strike coming to an end today have become brighter as the government and goods transporters have agreed on a majority of points, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

Sources told the 24News TV channel that in this connection an agreement would be signed between the two parties at Governor's House in Karachi today. 

According to the agreement, the prices of petroleum products will now be determined not on a daily, but on weekly basis.

Sources informed that the government had agreed to increase the weight of a 10-wheeler from 27.5 tonnes to 35 tonnes.

Similarly, the term of LTV for obtaining HTV licenses had been reduced from three years to one year, they said, adding an agreement had reached that a committee would be formed to do away with the condition of third-party insurance.

However, transporter's demand for reducing the withholding tax to two per cent has been rejected, and it will remain at seven per cent.  

Earlier, 24News TV channel reported that the movement of goods had come to a halt as the wheel-jam strike by goods transporters entered ninth day on Sunday.

According to Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan, transporters will today hold negotiations with the representatives of Center, Punjab and Sindh governments at the Governor’s House today. “Sindh Governor, Federal Minister of Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, transport ministers from Punjab and Sindh and other government officials will be in attendance,” he elaborated.

Awan said that right now the transporters were on strike across the country. “I hope that soon their issues will be resolved and vehicles will start plying on roads again.”

He urged members of his community to remain peaceful.

He said that the strike would continue till the acceptance of demands. 

However, Awan made it clear that transporters would not be duped by the federal and provincial governments. 

On the other hand, All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners’ Association President Awais Chaudhry said that the strike would continue till the acceptance of demands.

Transporters are continuing their wheel-jam protest over an unresolved deadlock with federal and provincial authorities regarding axle-load limits, tax relief, and frequent petroleum price revisions.

Reporters: Kawish Memon and Baseem Iftikhar