QUETTA : The All Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association has rejected the increase in petroleum prices and urged the government to withdraw its decision, as provincial president Haji Noor Muhammad Shahwani announced a 60 percent hike in goods transport fares.
Speaking to the media in Quetta, Shahwani said the fare increase was unavoidable due to rising diesel prices. He accused the government of repeatedly increasing diesel prices to hide its failures, despite the fact that diesel is available in sufficient quantity within Pakistan.
Shahwani pointed out that Iran has lifted restrictions on diesel exports, questioning why the government is not importing diesel from Iran when other consumer goods are being imported. He alleged that the government has created an environment of corruption and mismanagement, which he said was unacceptable to transporters across the province.
The association president warned that if the current situation continues, transporters would be left with no option but to launch a nationwide protest. He said consultations are currently underway with transporters across Pakistan, and a future course of action will be announced soon.
Shahwani appealed to the government to abandon its failed policies and end what he termed unjust decisions related to petrol and diesel prices. No immediate response from the federal or provincial government was available at the time of
filing.
