Transporters call off nationwide strike after successful negotiations with govt

ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (APP): In a major relief to the nation on Independence Day, the Pakistan Transport Council (PTC) announced the immediate end of its nationwide strike following successful negotiations with the federal government.

The announcement was made during a joint press conference led by Central President Tanveer Ahmad Jatt, Patron Muhammad Altaf, and Founder Rao Tahir Khan, alongside Central Vice President Ashraf Gujjar, Lahore Chairman Zubair Shakir Bajwa, Sheikhupura President Amjad Sandhu, and other senior office-bearers at National Press Club Islamabad. With the strike officially called off, goods transporters across the federation and all provinces have been directed to immediately resume freight operations and vehicle movement.

The breakthrough came after high-level talks conducted by a special committee formed on the directives of the Prime Minister and headed by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan.

During the negotiations, the government formally accepted eight urgent and legitimate demands raised by the transporters, while dedicated committees were constituted to resolve all remaining issues. To cement the resolution, representatives from 15 major goods transport organizations officially signed the agreement with government authorities.

Expressing deep gratitude to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan for their constructive approach, Tanveer Ahmad Jatt emphasized that the decision to end the strike was taken in the supreme national interest. He noted that the six-day closure had severely paralyzed port operations, halted general business activities, and disrupted the nationwide supply of essential commodities, including petrol, diesel, and food rations.

Under the agreed terms, the government has committed to freezing toll tax rates with no increases for a period of one year, alongside promises to remove unnecessary toll plazas and transition toward a modern automated toll system. Furthermore, it was decided that goods vehicles impounded under SRO 1619 will be released immediately against a bank guarantee. Following these assurances, cargo movement from Karachi Port and Port Qasim has been fully restored, bringing vital supply chains back to normal across the country.