Petrol hike pushes goods freight rates up 5%
Afghan refugees along with their belongings on trucks await deportation to Afghanistan near the Chaman border crossing. Photo: AFP
A fresh surge in petroleum prices has prompted goods transporters to announce a five per cent increase in freight rates, warning that they may revive a nationwide strike if the government fails to deliver on commitments made to end their earlier protest.
All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan strongly condemned the federal govt's decision, saying diesel had risen by Rs19 per litre and petrol by Rs20.36 per litre over the past 17 days. He rejected the government's policy of changing petroleum prices on a daily basis. "Goods transporters are announcing a 5% increase in freight rates," he said.
Awan recalled that during the strike from August 8 to 17, the petroleum minister had assured us that prices would not be revised on a daily basis.
This is why we had postponed the strike for 40 days. "If effective progress is not made on our demands, we will have no option but to return to the path of a nationwide strike."