KARACHI: Talks between the All Pakistan Goods Transport Ittehad (APGTI) and the Sindh government over cancelling the scheduled nationwide strike on August 8 have collapsed.
APGTI President Malik Shahzad Awan confirmed that negotiations had broken down, and the decision to proceed with the strike remains firm.
Indefinite Strike to Commence
“We will launch an indefinite strike across Pakistan starting tomorrow, August 8,” Malik Shahzad announced after the talks failed.
The transport leaders stated that they had submitted a detailed list of demands to the provincial authorities but accused the Sindh government of not taking their issues seriously.
The association has called on the government to address and meet all their demands promptly.
Earlier, Malik Shahzad Awan had strongly opposed the government’s move to revise fuel prices daily, describing the policy as unacceptable and harmful to the transport industry.
He criticized the frequent fluctuations in petroleum prices, warning that they cause uncertainty among transport operators and increase operational expenses.
Awan cautioned that the government’s “misguided policies,” especially the continuous rise in diesel prices, could paralyze the goods transport sector. He urged transporters nationwide to stay prepared, as a countrywide strike could be declared at any moment if their concerns are not addressed.
Highlighting the vital role of diesel in the economy, he called for an immediate reduction in fuel prices, emphasizing that economic activities heavily rely on road freight.
He also demanded the rollback of recent toll tax hikes and withholding tax increases, labeling them as additional financial burdens on transport operators.
Criticizing the government’s policies as “anti-transporter,” Awan appealed to chambers of commerce and business federations to actively support the transport sector’s interests.
He further stated that neither federal nor provincial authorities have provided meaningful relief to transporters thus far. He urged for concessions in motorway tolls, traffic fines, toll taxes, and withholding taxes to alleviate financial pressures.
Awan warned that if the government does not review and amend its policies, the transport sector will be compelled to organize protests across the country. He emphasized that failure to act could lead to a nationwide strike by transporters.
