The All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance has suspended its nine day nationwide strike for 40 days after the federal and Sindh governments agreed to address several of the transport industry’s major demands, including changes to petroleum pricing, toll taxes, axle load limits and parking facilities.
Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan announced the decision at a joint press conference with Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan. Awan said several demands had already been addressed, while other matters would be taken to the federal cabinet and relevant committees. “We are not ending the strike. We are postponing it,” he said, warning that transporters could resume their protest if the government fails to honor its commitments.
One of the key agreements concerns petroleum prices. The government has agreed to review petroleum product prices every 15 days instead of changing them daily, with a committee that will include three representatives from transporters’ associations. The government has also agreed to establish committees on toll taxes and axle load enforcement. Under the agreement, the 35 ton weight limit for 10 wheeler vehicles on national highways and the GT Road will remain in place for two years.
The agreement also covers several regulatory and enforcement issues. The government has committed to reviewing Customs SRO 1619 and releasing vehicles seized by the Federal Board of Revenue in smuggling cases where genuine owners produce court orders. Driving licenses, fitness certificates and route permits issued by any province or the federal territory will be recognized nationwide. The National Highways and Motorway Police has also agreed to establish a Driving License Authority in Karachi within 15 days.
Parking and truck stand facilities were another major area of discussion. The Sindh government and relevant federal authorities have assured transporters that 17 acres of land will be provided in Karachi for parking within 15 days, with additional parking facilities planned in Korangi Industrial Area, the car carrier area, Port Qasim and Karachi Port.
The government has also agreed to consider a truck stand on 1,000 acres near the Northern Bypass, while the Sindh governor has initially promised 350 acres. Punjab has separately committed to providing land for truck stands in Faisalabad, Multan, Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The agreement covers a wider range of demands, including vehicle weight and size limits, third party insurance, withholding tax, highway enforcement and the treatment of sealed containers. A committee will review the dimensions and weight limits for Mazda and light transport vehicles, as well as NPR, Canter and Dutro vehicles, within 15 days.
The government has also agreed to seek cabinet approval within 15 days to reduce withholding tax to 6 percent, while the Federal Board of Revenue will cooperate on reducing it further to 2 percent in the next budget. The governments have also assured transporters that vehicles and containers will not be detained or seized solely because of a strike or road closure, while Punjab Highway Patrol will not issue targeted tickets to transporters.
The transport alliance said committees would continue working on unresolved matters, including provincial issues in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, third party insurance and a case registered in Jamshoro. Awan said the alliance would monitor the implementation of the commitments during the 40 day suspension. If the government fails to deliver on the agreed measures, the transporters could revive their protest.
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