Transport Strike in Pakistan Continues as Government and Goods Transporters Remain Deadlocked
Talks between federal ministers and goods transport alliances end without agreement, while business leaders warn of severe supply chain disruptions across the country.
Goods transport trucks parked during the transport strike in pakistan
Nationwide Movement Suspended Amid Standoff
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI — The ongoing transport strike in pakistan has created a major standoff between the federal government and goods transport associations. Talks held on Monday ended without a breakthrough as both sides maintained firm positions on fuel pricing mechanisms, tax structures, highway toll rates, and vehicle load limits.
Heavy commercial vehicles—including oil tankers, trailers, and goods trucks—went off the roads ahead of the nationwide shutdown, halting cargo traffic across major transit corridors. A fresh round of negotiations is scheduled for Tuesday as federal authorities attempt to persuade transport leaders to end the strike.
Core Demands Behind the Transport Strike in Pakistan
The All Pakistan Goods Transport Ittehad alliance, representing multiple transport bodies, has outlined three main demands to the government negotiating team:
Vehicle Load & Toll Taxes: Transporters are requesting an increase in the permissible weight limit for 10-wheeler trucks from 27.5 tonnes to 35 tonnes, along with a reduction in toll charges managed by the National Highways Authority (NHA).
Fuel Price Fixation: The alliance demands a return to monthly fuel price adjustments rather than the recently introduced daily fuel pricing model, which they argue makes operational budgeting unpredictable.
Taxation & Customs Relief: Transporters are seeking reductions in income taxes, withholding tax rates, and customs duties that have added financial burden to the haulage sector.
The government negotiating team is being led by Communications Minister Aleem Khan and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, alongside officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), ports and shipping authorities, and provincial transport departments. Alliance spokesman Advocate Mohammad Owais Chaudhry affirmed that transporters will not compromise and that the strike will persist until formal notifications accepting their demands are issued.
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Industrial Concerns and Mediation Offers
The prolonged transport strike in pakistan has raised alarm across industrial hubs, particularly in Karachi. Business leaders warn that suspending the movement of raw materials, export consignments, and petroleum products threatens factory operations and port logistics.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has offered to step in as a mediator. KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif urged top federal and provincial leaders to engage directly with transporters to prevent supply chain disruption. Concurrently, Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) Chairman Fawad Anwar appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene, emphasizing that the textile sector relies heavily on smooth, uninterrupted transport to meet international delivery schedules.
With the next round of discussions scheduled for Tuesday, pressure is mounting on both parties to negotiate a resolution and restore the nationwide flow of goods.
