Transporters warn of protest over fuel price hikes

KARACHI: All Pakistan Goods Transporters’ Alliance President, Malik Shehzad Awan has criticised the federal government over repeated increases in petroleum prices and warned that transporters can come on the roads if agreements reached with the government are not implemented. In a statement, Malik said frequent changes in diesel and petrol prices were placing additional pressure on the transport sector and the wider economy. The higher fuel costs translated into increased transportation expenses put upward pressure on prices of essential commodities. “People are being hit with a diesel and petrol bomb every day, while businesses are suffering and unemployment is rising. ” He said transporters did not want to be forced to announce increases in freight charges on a daily basis because of continued volatility in fuel prices. Awan urged the petroleum minister to reconsider the government’s policy, warning that what he described as an ineffective petroleum pricing policy could create further difficulties for the government. He recalled that during the nationwide strike by goods transporters in August, the petroleum minister had assured them that fuel prices would not be changed on a daily basis. According to Awan, diesel prices had increased by Rs23 per litre and petrol prices by Rs25 per litre over the past 18 days. He said the federal and provincial governments must honour agreements reached with transporters during nationwide strikes held in December and August. “Some of our demands have been accepted and implementation is under way, but most of them remain pending, ” Awan said, calling for immediate action on the outstanding demands. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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