Transporters across country observe strike

Threaten to increase the scale of strike if demands not addressed

KARACHI: A country-wide strike was observed by goods transporters on Monday with regards to the axle load limit. The transporters held a joint press conference announcing the strike. According to their spokesperson, Imdad Hussain Naqvi, the purpose of observing the strike is to ensure enforcement of laws. He said that operations would remain halted till the government remains indifferent to the issue.

Naqvi maintained that the government was not ready to stop overloading, despite the Supreme Court's orders and repeated talks with the government. He said that the transporters were forced to call the strike. All transportation of national and international goods will remain halted till our demand is met, he added. Naqvi said that the prime minister should issue directives to ensure overloading is stopped at all three borders, ports and industries. Besides, he said that the transporters want a centralised driving licence authority so that the acquisition of licenses can be swift and corruption-free.

Meanwhile, United Goods Transporters Chairperson Ghulam Yasin said that the government was given a 10-point-agenda. "Our demands weren't met despite negotiations," he said. The axle load limit laws should be enforced immediately and heavy penalties should be annulled, he added. According to him, the provincial transport minister has also extended support for the demands of the transporters. "We will increase the scale of our strike if our demands are not addressed," said Yasin.

Representatives of goods transporters met with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail after the press conference. The governor promised to take the matter to the prime minister and requested the transporters to postpone their strike for 10 days. However, the transporters refused to do that.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2020.