The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance declared on Tuesday that it will launch a nationwide wheel-jam strike starting August 8. The transporters warned that halting freight movement could severely disrupt the supply chain of essential commodities if the government does not address their demands promptly.
The announcement was made during a press conference at the National Press Club, where alliance leaders including Muhammad Owais Chaudhry, President of the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association, Malik Shafeeullah Awan, and Malik Nisar spoke about the sector’s mounting challenges.
The transport sector is currently grappling with a severe financial crisis caused by repeated diesel price hikes, increased taxes, and other government policies. The alliance has called for a rollback of diesel taxes to the levels prevailing on July 1, 2024, along with a reduction in toll taxes. They also urged the government to lower the withholding tax on cargo transporters from 7 percent to 2 percent, highlighting that oil tanker operators already benefit from the reduced rate.
In a significant development, the alliance rejected a clause in the Finance Act 2026 that permits the confiscation of entire vehicles if non-duty-paid goods are found onboard. They labeled this provision unfair and demanded its replacement with the previous system of imposing fines while releasing the vehicle. Additionally, they called for consistent enforcement of axle-load regulations nationwide, emphasizing that overloading should be controlled at factories, warehouses, and loading points rather than through roadside checks, which they claim have become revenue-generating exercises.
Other demands include simplifying the process for obtaining heavy transport vehicle (HTV) driving licenses and ending daily fuel price adjustments. Instead, the transporters proposed revising fuel prices on a fortnightly or monthly basis to provide greater financial predictability.
Chaudhry highlighted that current policies have pushed drivers, small transporters, and truck owners—many of whom are paying installments on financed vehicles—into deep financial distress, threatening their ability to continue operations. He noted that despite repeated appeals to the government through letters, meetings, and media, no substantial progress has been made. He urged the government to engage with the alliance before the situation deteriorates further.
Notably, the alliance expressed solidarity with Karachi’s goods transporters, who have already announced a strike. They extended their support and warned that if the government fails to enter negotiations and meet their demands, all categories of goods transport, including cargo trucks, containers, and oil tankers, will remain off the roads starting August 8.
The leaders assured that the strike would be peaceful, with vehicles parked rather than highways being blocked. However, Malik Nisar cautioned that a prolonged shutdown could severely impact imports, exports, and the distribution of essential goods, placing the responsibility for any resulting disruptions squarely on the government.
