Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan said the transporters’ strike will continue until authorities issue an official notification addressing their demands.
Speaking in Karachi, he said all loading and unloading operations at the country’s ports remain suspended. He added that container terminals at Port Qasim and Karachi Port are already operating at nearly 80 percent capacity.
Awan warned that continued disruption could soon leave container terminals without space to handle additional containers.
He said negotiations with a government committee are scheduled for today at 12 noon. He added that the alliance has already held talks with negotiation committees representing the federal government and the Punjab government.
The alliance president said both the federal and Punjab governments have shown willingness to accept the transporters’ demands. However, he said the transporters will not call off the strike until authorities issue a formal notification.
Goods transporters have complained that authorities are detaining their drivers in various parts of Punjab. They have also raised concerns over amendments to the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965, which they say have introduced stricter regulations for heavy transport vehicles.