The All Pakistan Goods Transporter Owners Association has welcomed the implementation of axle load limit regulations at the sea ports saying that it had been a longstanding demand of the transporters. However, it called for immediately extending these rules to highways, as overloading is causing significant damage to vehicles and roads.
The reaction came at a press conference by the association's President Nazimuddin Bardi, General Secretary Owais Chaudhry and other office bearers near Shireen Jinnah Colony on Friday. Chaudhry noted their recent legal victory in the Islamabad High Court on this matter.
The overloading mafia is in favour of continuing this harmful practice, while the transporters support the strict enforcement of weight limit rules. As a result, a protest has been ongoing for the last eight days, with approximately 5,000 freight vehicles standing in solidarity at Kathor.
Further outlining their demands, Chaudhry urged the National Highway Authority (NHA) to activate weigh bridges on Motorway M9, the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to implement its three weight scales effectively, and custodians to ensure the enforcement of motorway laws.
In the initial phase of the strike, 22-wheel vehicles faced disruptions, leading to a shortage of wheat, fertiliser, and steel supplies. Following the strike announcement, numerous vehicles at Port Qasim joined the protest.
Due to non-compliance of weight limit regulations, roads intended to last for 30 years were being destroyed in just three.
Pakistan is unique in the world for not enforcing axle load limit regulations, contributing to these challenges.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2023.
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