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| Transporters threaten strike against POL price hike |
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Friday, July 03, 2009
By Jawwad Rizvi
LAHORE: Following the recent hike in prices of petroleum products transporters have decided to go on strike from July 08 if the government does not withdraw increase in diesel and petrol prices while the truck drivers have endorsed the transporters and also announced full support.
The News has learnt that after the recent increase POL prices transporters have increased the fright charges by 40 per cent across the country. Almost equal increase in cargo fright charges has been recorded at every route including Karachi-Lahore, Lahore-Karachi, Lahore-Rawalpindi-Peshawar and other routes of smaller cities of the country.
The cargo fright of a truck from Lahore-Karachi was ranging Rs15,000 to 16,000 per trip and from Karachi-Lahore was Rs50,000 which are not reaching at Rs20,000 to 21,000 and Rs60,000, respectively.
Similarly, the fright charges of 20-feet cargo container Lahore-Rawalpindi-Peshawar was Rs12,000 to 13,000 and Rs21,000 to 22,000 for 40-feet cargo container which are increased to Rs17,000 and Rs25,000 to 26,000, respectively.
There over 5,000 trucks daily moving from Karachi to down the country and over 1,500 trucks move from Lahore to up and down the country and 10 to 200 trucks from different cities to different parts of the country. Now the cargo freight charges would be almost increased by 40 per cent to every destination. This increase will ultimately pass on to the end users so the prices of every item will be inflated at least 10 to 20 per cent.
The Pakistan Goods Transporters Association and All Pakistan Truck Drivers Union called a meeting to evolve a strategy and ask the government to withdraw decision of increase in petroleum products prices.
It was decided in the meeting that both the transporters and truck drivers will observe a token strike on July 04 in Lahore and if the government will not bring down prices then countrywide strike would be observed from July 08 for indefinite period.
Pakistan Goods Transporters Association General Secretary, Nabeel Tariq while talking to The News revealed that the association has called a meeting on Thursday, in which it had decided to come on roads against increase in petrol and diesel prices. He said the cost of doing business in Pakistan was already very high and after recent increase will further de-track all the industry including cargo transport industry. He was of the view that increase in petroleum products price was illogical when the international prices were declining.
All Pakistan Truck Drivers Union General Secretary, Javeed Butt also confirmed the meeting and said the association will support transporters as they were contesting for their rights.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
