The Pakistan Mini Mazda Association and the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association have announced a nationwide wheel-jam strike from August 8 over daily petroleum price revisions, heavy fines and other issues affecting the transport sector.
The transporters said the shutdown could seriously disrupt imports and exports if their demands are not addressed before the strike begins.
At a joint press conference, Pakistan Mini Mazda Association Central President Tanveer Jatt urged the government to resolve the matter in advance, warning that the planned strike would halt freight movement across the country.
He demanded that petroleum prices be revised on a monthly basis instead of daily and called for relief from toll taxes and what he described as unjust fines.
“The nationwide wheel-jam strike will begin on August 8, so we request the government to accept our demands beforehand because the strike will affect the country’s import and export business,” he said.
All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association President Chaudhry Owais Gujjar demanded strict implementation of axle-load limits in line with the law and alleged that corruption had become widespread in the enforcement process.
He said transporters pay billions of rupees in toll taxes every year but receive little in return, adding that poor road conditions were a major cause of traffic accidents.
Gujjar also accused officials from the Regional Transport Authority Secretariat and Highway Patrol Police of harassing transporters on the roads.
Transport leader Khalid Arain blamed government policies for pushing transporters toward industrial action. He said transport operators in other countries receive facilities, while Pakistani transporters face constant pressure.
He added that transporters had received no compensation after militants set some of their vehicles on fire.
“We pay advance taxes, but what facilities is the government providing us in return?” he asked.
Arain said overloaded vehicles should not be allowed on roads, but argued that enforcement should be based on consultation rather than punitive action. He said the issues could be resolved quickly if the government held talks with transporters.
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