PESHAWAR: Transporters in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa observed a wheel-jam strike on Tuesday against the recent fuel price hike. However, in provincial capital Peshawar, the strike was only partial.
In Peshawar, the strike call was observed given by the All Pakistan Goods Transport Truck Owners Association and All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association. They vowed to continue their protest until the prices of petroleum and lubricants are lowered.
Transporters whose cars consume CNG also did not participate as they are divided on the issue of fares.
Sarhad Transport Association President Haji Ihsan told The Express Tribune that the vehicles consume either CNG or diesel. He said that fares are already high for those vehicles that consume diesel, and thus there is no need for those transporters to protest.
He said that some contractors at the old General Bus Stand, where most of vehicles use CNG, want to increase their fares to that charged by vehicles using diesel. “This will be injustice to the poor public who cannot afford such high fares,” he said.
Ihsan said that transporters at the Peshawar Bus Terminal are against the strike but protesters from the old bus stand had blocked the GT Road and are obstructing his association’s transporters in reaching their destinations. “If the owners of CNG-run transport want to increase their fares, they should approach the court instead of going for strikes and blocking roads.”
Across Charsadda district, transporters observed the strike, local sources told The Express Tribune.
In Nowshera district, most drivers blocked roads and there were instances in which they pulled passengers out of public transport vehicles.
A resident from DI Khan said students and clerical staff faced problems reaching colleges and workplaces due to the strike.
Reports from Mardan and Swabi districts also said public transport remained unavailable and only private transport could be seen on roads.
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