Govt bows to transporters after nine-day strike

Goods transporters defer protest for 40 days Federal, provincial govts agree to address concerns Seek 15 days fo

KARACHI:

Talks between the All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance (APGTA) and the federal and provincial governments succeeded on Sunday, leading transporters to defer their nationwide strike, which had continued for nine days, for 40 days and announce resumption of vehicle operations.

The breakthrough was reached at a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi at Governor House. Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani, Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, secretary communications, Motorway Police inspector general, National Highway Authority chairman and others attended the meeting.

The APGTA delegation was led by its president Malik Shahzad Awan.

Goods transporters announced a strike on August 8 after talks between them and the government failed to resolve the transporters' longstanding grievances.

Their key demands included ending daily revisions of diesel prices and restoring a monthly pricing mechanism, reversing increases in toll charges, reducing the seven per cent withholding tax to two per cent and ensuring uniform enforcement of axle-load regulations across the country.

The transporters had also opposed a provision in the 2026 Finance Act under which an entire vehicle could be confiscated if non-customs-paid goods were found on board.

The nine-day stoppage disrupted freight movement and affected cargo handling at ports, raising concerns about domestic supply chains and exports.

Addressing a press conference after the talks, the APGTA president said transporters presented their demands to both federal and provincial governments and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif constituted a special committee under the chairmanship of Abdul Aleem Khan to address their concerns.

Awan said the strike had been called after the government failed to respond to demands concerning the daily fixing of petroleum product prices, withholding tax and other issues.

He said some of the demands had been resolved immediately through negotiations with the federal and provincial governments, while the transporters had been assured that several other issues would be resolved within 15 to 20 days after approval by the cabinet.

He said most of the demands concerning the Punjab government were also expected to be addressed. Regarding axle load regulations, he said the law would be implemented 100 per cent in accordance with the legal requirements and that the transporters would cooperate with the government in this regard.

He said the decision to defer the strike had been taken in the larger national interest after consultations between the government and the transporters' 50-member committee.

"The strike is not being ended but deferred for 40 days," Awan clarified. "If the government's commitments are not fulfilled, we will be within our constitutional right to resume protest."

He said transporters had staged a peaceful protest during the nine-day strike, adding that no roads were blocked and the protesters did not take the law into their own hands.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi said both sides had shown openness and understood each other's position, ultimately reaching an agreement.

He said both sides had expressed their resolve to make sacrifices in the larger national interest. "Today has been a day of goodwill and relief," he said, adding that Pakistan and the entire region were facing extraordinary circumstances.

"Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is working day and night for peace in the region, while the PM and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are making efforts to provide maximum possible relief to the people," he said.

Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan thanked the Sindh governor for facilitating the negotiations and said the government was working to resolve the outstanding demands of transporters.

He said the government had listened to the transporters' concerns and addressed those that could be resolved immediately, while committees had been constituted to deal with the remaining issues.

Khan acknowledged the support extended by federal ministers, Karachi mayor and Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani, adding that Punjab's transport minister had also helped resolve several issues.

He expressed hope that the remaining matters would also be resolved in the future. The minister also announced that work on a new motorway from Sukkur to Hyderabad and Karachi would begin this year.

"This is great news for the whole of Pakistan," he said, adding that the project would meet international standards. He said the government did not want to enter into anything that could trigger a dispute.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the stakeholders had held discussions throughout the day and tried to understand the issue in order to find a solution. He said the Sindh government would fulfil its responsibilities regarding matters falling within its jurisdiction.

Wahab added that some demands required amendments to existing laws, while others would be addressed in coordination with the Karachi Port Trust (KPT). Sindh Minister Ghani and Mayor Wahab assured the transporters that the issue of parking facilities would be addressed.

The government on August 14 increased profit margins of petrol pump owners by 15.5% in a hurriedly called virtual meeting to avert a strike, as it withdrew a decision to link profits with sales digitisation, partially rolling back an initiative aimed at checking sales of smuggled fuel.

With no member present in the meeting room, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved an increase in the dealers' margin on sales of petrol and diesel by Rs1.34 per litre.

With this decision, the existing profit margin of Rs8.64 per litre has jumped to Rs9.98, which would increase the prices of petrol and diesel proportionately. Earlier in December 2025, the federal cabinet had linked the Rs1.34 per litre increase with the digitisation of sales.