Goods transporters warn of freight hike

The Goods Transport Alliance has warned that freight charges could be increased following rising petroleum costs. The alliance has also threatened to launch another nationwide strike if the government fails to address its concerns.

Alliance leader Malik Shehzad Awan criticised the government’s decision to revise petroleum product prices on a daily basis. He described the policy as unacceptable and said frequent fuel price changes were creating serious difficulties for transport operators.

Awan said fuel is one of the biggest expenses for the goods transportation sector. Any increase in diesel and petrol prices directly raises the cost of operating trucks and other heavy vehicles.

He said transporters cannot maintain existing freight rates when fuel costs continue to fluctuate. According to him, operators have to bear higher expenses on fuel, maintenance, wages and long-distance routes.

The alliance leader warned that transporters may have no option but to revise freight charges if fuel prices remain high. Such an increase could raise transportation costs for businesses that rely on road networks to move goods between cities.

Awan also objected to changing petroleum prices on a daily basis. He said the frequent revisions create uncertainty for transporters because they are unable to accurately calculate their operating costs and determine freight rates in advance.

He urged the government to reconsider the pricing mechanism and hold consultations with representatives of the transport industry. He said a stable and predictable fuel pricing policy was necessary for the sector to operate smoothly.

The alliance also warned that another countrywide strike could be considered if its demands were not addressed. Awan said transporters had already faced significant financial pressure and could take collective action if the situation continued.

Transport operators have previously staged protests and strikes over fuel prices, taxes, freight rates and other operational issues. Any disruption in goods transportation can affect the movement of essential commodities and supplies across the country.