Goods transporters threaten nationwide strike from August 8 over fuel prices, tax demands

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance on Tuesday announced a nationwide wheel-jam strike from August 8, warning that a suspension of freight movement could disrupt the supply of essential commodities if the government failed to address its demands.

The announcement was made at a press conference at the National Press Club, addressed by alliance leaders including All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association President Muhammad Owais Chaudhry Advocate, Malik Shafeeullah Awan and Malik Nisar.

The transporters said the sector was facing an unprecedented financial crisis due to repeated hikes in diesel prices, higher taxes and other government measures. They demanded a reduction in diesel taxes, with fuel prices restored to their July 1, 2024 level, and called for toll taxes to be brought back down as well. They also sought a cut in the withholding tax on cargo transporters from 7 percent to 2 percent, arguing that oil tanker operators already paid the lower rate.

The alliance rejected a provision in the Finance Act 2026 allowing an entire vehicle to be confiscated if non-duty-paid goods were found on board, calling it unjust and demanding its withdrawal in favour of the earlier system of fines with vehicle release. They also called for uniform enforcement of axle-load regulations nationwide, arguing that overloading should be checked at factories, warehouses and loading points rather than through roadside enforcement, which they alleged had turned into a revenue-collection exercise.

Other demands included a simpler procedure for obtaining heavy transport vehicle (HTV) driving licences and an end to daily fuel price adjustments, with the transporters instead calling for prices to be revised fortnightly or monthly to give operators greater certainty.

Chaudhry said the current policies had pushed drivers, small transporters and vehicle owners paying instalments on financed trucks into severe financial hardship, making it increasingly difficult to continue operations. “We have repeatedly approached the government through letters, meetings and media appeals, but no meaningful progress has been made,” he said, adding that transporters had already suffered heavy losses and could not sustain further ones. He appealed to the government to consult the association on its demands before the situation escalated further.

The alliance leaders noted that Karachi’s goods transporters had already announced their own strike, and said the wider alliance was extending its support to that call for action.

It was jointly announced that unless the government entered into immediate negotiations and accepted their demands, all categories of goods transport, including cargo trucks, containers and oil tankers, would remain off the roads from August 8. The leaders said the strike would remain peaceful, with transporters parking their vehicles rather than blocking highways. However, Malik Nisar warned that a prolonged shutdown could significantly affect imports, exports and the movement of essential goods, and that the government would bear responsibility for the consequences.