Goods transporters defer strike for 40 days

Business Recorder reported that goods transporters suspended a nine-day nationwide strike on Sunday for 40 days. The move followed a high-level session at the Governor House in Karachi, where federal and Sindh officials agreed to examine fuel pricing, toll taxes, parking and axle-load limits. Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nihal Hashmi chaired the meeting, which the federal communications minister, Sindh labour minister, Punjab transport minister and Karachi mayor also attended.

Malik Shahzad Awan, president of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, said the stoppage had been postponed rather than ended. Under the understandings, a committee will examine ways to lower toll charges, petroleum prices will be revised every 15 days or monthly rather than daily, and parking issues in Sindh will be addressed. Some points have already been settled, while axle-load disputes and remaining matters will go to the federal cabinet, and Awan warned that the stoppage could restart if promises are broken.

The dispute had grown out of steep fuel cost increases, frequent petroleum price changes, and operators' concerns about toll charges and rising running costs. The pause brings short-term relief to freight movement following upheaval lasting more than a week, though transporters have tied it to the government honouring its commitments.