ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The announcement of a 5% increase in freight costs by goods transporters throughout the nation occurred after diesel prices reached their highest point.
Malik Shehzad Awan, the President of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, expressed his strong disapproval of government policies because he believed that rising operational costs had forced him to make this decision.
He issued a warning about the need for policy changes because the current situation would result in a complete shutdown of the nation’s entire transportation network. He stated that freight operators receive no substantial benefits from current arrangements while existing subsidies remain at low levels.
According to him, the cost of one trailer trip has risen by approximately Rs. 200,000, while trucks and trailers that complete four monthly trips must now pay an extra burden of Rs. 800,000.
Shehzad Awan required an end to toll taxes, withholding charges, motorway fees, and traffic police fines because he believed incorrect policies had caused many transport operators to stop their operations.
He explained that the situation has worsened because fuel prices keep rising while there is no assistance for the transportation industry. He issued a warning about how transport operators now run their businesses at a loss because they must deal with two major challenges, which include economic factors and government policies.
The goods transport system in Pakistan needs immediate policy changes because it will face a complete operational shutdown without them.
