Goods Transporters Call Nationwide Strike From August 8
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s goods transport sector has announced an indefinite nationwide strike beginning August 8, raising the prospect of major disruption to freight movement, industrial supplies and retail distribution. The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance issued the strike call on Monday after saying that several long-standing demands remained unresolved.
Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan said transport operators across the country would suspend services unless the government addressed their concerns before Saturday. The group’s central demands include relief from recent petroleum-price increases and higher motorway and highway tolls, which transporters say have sharply raised the cost of moving cargo.
The alliance also wants the government to change the fuel-pricing mechanism so that petroleum rates are reviewed monthly instead of being adjusted more frequently. Transport representatives argue that rapid changes make it difficult for operators to calculate freight charges, negotiate contracts and manage expenses over longer routes.
Taxation is another major point of dispute. Goods carriers have demanded that withholding tax be reduced from 7 per cent to 2 per cent, maintaining that the present rate places excessive pressure on businesses already dealing with expensive fuel, vehicle maintenance, spare parts and financing costs. They also called for the resignation of Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik over the handling of fuel-related policies.
The transporters presented several regulatory demands, including enforcement of the axle-load regime and withdrawal of Customs SRO 1619/2024. They also opposed measures affecting vehicles between 10 and 20 years old, warning that large-scale removal or cancellation of older trucks could force smaller operators out of business before they are financially able to replace their fleets.
The alliance additionally sought changes to compensation requirements associated with fatal road accidents, including the withdrawal of a Rs9.7 million diyat-related provision raised during the press conference. It demanded easier access to heavy transport vehicle licences for qualified drivers, saying licensing procedures must support rather than obstruct the commercial transport workforce.
Infrastructure and security problems were also highlighted. Transport leaders called for dedicated truck-parking facilities at Karachi Port and Port Qasim, where congestion and limited space can delay cargo movement. They also asked authorities to improve security in Balochistan and urged the Sindh government to withdraw its third-party insurance requirement.
Goods transporters form the backbone of Pakistan’s domestic supply network, carrying food, fuel, construction materials, agricultural produce and imported goods between ports, factories, warehouses and markets. A prolonged shutdown could slow industrial production, create shortages of essential commodities and raise prices as businesses compete for limited freight capacity.
The federal government had not announced formal negotiations with the alliance at the time of reporting. Attention will now focus on whether officials invite transport representatives for urgent talks before August 8, as failure to reach an agreement could turn the strike into a wider economic challenge affecting consumers, exporters, manufacturers and provincial supply chains.