ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan has strongly condemned the federal government’s decision to increase petroleum product prices and has announced that a nationwide strike call will be given at any time.
In a statement, Awan rejected the government’s policy of changing petroleum prices on a daily basis. He revealed that consultations are currently underway with transport associations across Pakistan regarding the matter.
Warning of imminent action, the President of the Goods Transport Alliance urged transporters across the country to remain ready, as a nationwide strike call will be announced very soon against what he termed the “wrong policies” of the federal government.
Awan stated that the transport sector has been stalled due to the government’s wrong policies and the continuous increase in diesel prices. He accused the federal government of making decisions that are “hostile to transporters.” He also called upon chambers and federations across Pakistan to play a role in addressing the issue.
The alliance president demanded that the increase in toll tax and withholding tax be withdrawn immediately. He said that his organization has been seeking relief from the federal government on toll tax, withholding tax, and motorway and traffic police challans, but claimed that neither the federal nor the provincial governments are providing any relief to goods transporters.
Awan further stated that, in the larger interest of the country, vehicles are being operated at a loss. He added that the transport business has been greatly affected by the current war situation, but the federal government is forcing them to go on a nationwide strike.
In his concluding remarks, Malik Shahzad Awan demanded that the promises made by the federal and provincial governments during the nationwide strike in December should also be implemented.
