Goods transporters have threatened a nationwide strike in response to the government’s decision to raise petroleum product prices.
According to details, the President of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, Malik Shehzad Awan, rejected the recent fuel price hike in a statement, saying the increase would force them to raise fares by 5%. He warned that the decision would not only affect the transport community but also impact the general public across the country.
The Alliance president further stated that they receive no protection, with their vehicles being set on fire in Karachi and across Sindh and Balochistan, and robbed at gunpoint in Punjab. He added that toll taxes are constantly rising, and now withholding tax has also been increased by 2%. He claimed the government’s policies are pushing them toward shutting down operations and initiating a nationwide strike. Discussions with transport associations from all four provinces are underway, and a future strategy will be announced soon.
It was reported that following the fuel price hike, transporters across the country have increased public transport fares by 5%. As a result, the fare from Lahore to Karachi has risen from Rs. 5,500 to Rs. 5,800, Lahore to Quetta from Rs. 5,500 to Rs. 5,800, Lahore to Rawalpindi from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 2,800, Lahore to Multan from Rs. 2,200 to Rs. 2,500, Lahore to Bahawalpur from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 2,800, and Lahore to Peshawar from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 3,300.
Additionally, Pakistan Railways has increased fares for express and passenger trains by 2%. A notification regarding the fare hike has been issued, stating that the new fares will take effect from July 4. The increase will apply to all passenger, shuttle, and saloon services, including bookings. This is the second fare increase within a month; on June 18, passenger train fares were raised by 3%, while freight train fares were hiked by 4%.
