KARACHI: The Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance has increased freight fares by four percent after the government raised diesel prices, its president Malik Shehzad Awan said.
He criticised the decision to raise diesel rates, describing it as unacceptable and saying transporters were left with no alternative but to pass on the impact through higher fares. He said fuel price increases ultimately affected the entire population as transportation costs were linked to the prices of essential goods.
Awan alleged that both the federal and Punjab governments were placing transporters under pressure. Referring to a recent strike by transporters, he said the federal government had assured them that petroleum prices would be reduced.
He added that several understandings reached with the federal and Punjab authorities during the strike had yet to be implemented. He also said commitments made by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan were not being upheld by motorway police.
The alliance president warned that if the agreed measures were not enforced, transporters would have no option but to call another nationwide strike. He said both the federal and Punjab governments would be responsible for any losses arising from such action.
On January 31, the government raised the price of high-speed diesel by Rs11.30 per litre, setting the new rate at Rs268.38 per litre for the next fortnight. The price of petrol was left unchanged at Rs253.17 per litre.
