ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: The All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan said negotiations with the federal government would be held on Monday at 11am, followed by talks with the Sindh government at 2pm.
Awan’s statement came as the nationwide strike by goods transporters entered its second day on Sunday, with transporters across Pakistan continuing to suspend operations in support of their demands.
Awan said Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, along with representatives of the ministries of Ports and Shipping, Finance and Petroleum, would participate in the negotiations with the transporters. He said the talks with the Sindh government would take place at the Commissioner’s Office. However, he made it clear that transporters would not call off their strike merely on assurances. “We will not end the strike on assurances alone. Our demands must be approved.”
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However, the nationwide wheel-jam strike of goods transporters entered its second day on Sunday. The transporters said frequent changes in diesel prices and continued increases in fuel costs had made it increasingly difficult to operate their businesses. They also cited higher toll taxes and other issues as major challenges facing them.
The demanded that decision to set diesel prices on a daily basis should be withdrawn. They called for the recent increase in toll taxes to be reversed and rates to be brought back to the level of 30 June 2024. Among their other demands is a reduction in withholding tax from 7 percent to 2 percent.
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