Goods transporters’ strike enters third day in Karachi

KARACHI (92 News) – Goods transporters’ strike entered the third day in the city on Wednesday. After Karachi, the cargo loading was also stopped at Port Qasim. Owing to the strike, the delivery of fertilizers, coal and industrial and construction machinery was stopped. On the other hand, owners of oil tankers have also supported the strike. On January 6, goods transporters went on a wheel-jam strike for an indefinite period in protest against heavy fines by the authorities on highways and motorways. Imadad Hussain, spokesman for the goods transporters, said that the objective of the strike is only the implementation of the law. “We went total imposition of the excel load limit. Foreign and local deliveries will remain suspended till acceptance of their demands,” he said. On January 4, goods transporters had threatened a strike for an indefinite period from January 6 if their demands were not accepted. Addressing a joint press conference, they had also threatened to stop the delivery of goods across the country. They demanded immediate removal of Minister for Communications Murad Saeed. They said that it had become very difficult to run the transport goods business due to new laws. “Excel weight limit should be fixed as per directions of the Islamabad High Court,” they demanded. They said that NHA authorities were imposing heavy fines. “We will be forced to observe the strike from January 6 if the government did not resolve our problems,” he said. They said that their protest would continue till imposition of the new laws.