LAHORE: Reacting strongly to the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products, Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan announced a 20 percent increase in freight fares across the country.
Malik Shahzad Awan said that during the last two months, the price of diesel has been increased by Rs 78 per liter while the price of petrol has been increased by Rs 68 per liter, due to which the expenses of transporters have increased significantly.
He said that if the increase in the prices of petroleum products has been done under some compulsion, then the federal government should announce a reduction in toll tax and other taxes so that the transporters can get some relief.
He said that despite the delicate economic situation of the country, transporters are continuing their import, export and business activities, however, the continuous increase in the prices of petroleum products affects not only transporters but every Pakistani and this brings a new storm of inflation.
Malik Shahzad Awan said that due to the wrong policies of the federal and Punjab governments, transporters had to go on a 10-day nationwide strike in the past. According to him, the agreements made with Senior Minister Punjab Maryam Aurangzeb and Minister for Transport Punjab Bilal Akbar during the strike have not been implemented yet.
He further said that the promises made by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan are also not being implemented.
The President of Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance demanded that the federal, Punjab and Sindh governments immediately implement the agreements made with transporters, otherwise if the policies are not reviewed, transport will be stopped across Pakistan, for which the entire responsibility will fall on the federal government.
