Pakistan Goods Transporters Raise Freight Fares 5%, Threaten Nationwide Strike
KARACHI, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan’s goods transporters have announced a 5% increase in freight charges nationwide following another rise in petroleum prices, while warning that they could resume a countrywide strike if federal and provincial governments fail to make meaningful progress on their outstanding demands.
All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan announced the increase on Tuesday, saying transport operators could no longer absorb rising fuel and operating costs.
The decision could increase the cost of moving food, industrial supplies, agricultural products and other commodities across Pakistan, potentially adding another layer of pressure to consumer prices.
Freight Charges Increased by 5%
Awan said goods transporters across Pakistan had strongly rejected the latest increase in petroleum prices and would consequently raise freight rates by 5%.
He argued that repeated changes in petrol and diesel prices were creating serious difficulties for the transport industry and called on the government to reverse its policy of frequent fuel-price revisions.
According to Awan, diesel has increased by Rs19 per litre over the past 17 days, while petrol has risen by Rs20.36 per litre during the same period.
The transport alliance says these increases have substantially raised operating expenses for truckers already facing tolls, maintenance costs, taxes and other expenses.
Petrol Rises to Rs358.77 Per Litre
The latest fuel-price revision raised petrol by Rs12.90 per litre to Rs358.77, while high-speed diesel increased by Rs3.72 to Rs381.77 per litre.
Higher diesel prices are particularly important for Pakistan’s logistics sector because heavy commercial vehicles depend overwhelmingly on diesel.
Fuel represents a major component of trucking costs, meaning sustained increases can quickly feed into freight rates.
Goods transporters had already increased fares on some routes following earlier petroleum-price increases. In Peshawar, for example, cargo and passenger transport rates were raised last week, with operators citing repeated fuel-price increases.
Transporters Threaten Another Nationwide Strike
The alliance also warned that Pakistan could face another nationwide goods transport strike if the government fails to implement commitments made during negotiations last month.
Goods transporters launched an indefinite nationwide strike on August 8, keeping vehicles off roads after negotiations with federal and Sindh government officials initially failed.
The industrial action disrupted cargo movement across the country and affected the movement of goods linked to ports, factories and commercial markets.
After nine days, the transporters agreed on August 16 to suspend the strike for 40 days following government assurances.
The decision did not permanently end the dispute.
Instead, the alliance effectively gave authorities a 40-day window to implement agreed measures.
Most Demands Still Pending, Alliance Says
Awan said some of the transporters’ demands had been accepted and implementation was underway, but claimed that most outstanding issues remained unresolved.
He warned that if meaningful progress was not achieved within the agreed 40-day period, goods transporters would again resort to a nationwide strike.
The alliance says both federal and provincial governments have yet to provide effective relief to the industry.
Awan also demanded full implementation of commitments made to transporters during earlier nationwide strikes in December and August.
The threatened strike is therefore conditional: transporters have not announced a new strike date at this stage.
What Did the Government Promise Transporters?
The August settlement involved several issues affecting the goods transport industry.
Following negotiations, Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said a committee would be formed to review toll taxes, while authorities also offered assurances concerning petroleum pricing and axle-load limits.
Transporters were told petroleum prices would be reviewed on a 15-day or monthly basis, while appropriate weight limits for 10-wheeler trucks were also among the issues discussed.
Other longstanding concerns have included parking facilities, challans, highway and motorway regulations and operating costs.
The alliance now argues that government action has fallen short of what was promised.
Awan specifically criticised frequent changes in petroleum prices, saying the petroleum minister had assured transporters during the August strike that fuel prices would not be changed on a daily basis.
Higher Freight Costs Could Feed Inflation
The 5% freight increase could have consequences beyond the transport sector.
Pakistan’s road-freight network plays a central role in moving food, agricultural produce, imported goods, industrial raw materials and exports between ports, factories, warehouses and markets.
When freight charges increase, some of those additional costs can eventually be passed through supply chains to wholesalers, retailers and consumers.
Recent fare increases have already been linked to higher transportation costs for essential commodities.
In Rawalpindi, for example, increases in goods transport rates have contributed to higher costs for moving products including flour, sugar, vegetables and fruit.
Awan similarly warned that persistent volatility in petroleum prices affects not only transporters but also prices of essential goods across Pakistan.
Another Strike Could Disrupt Supply Chains
A renewed nationwide wheel-jam strike could create a more immediate economic risk.
Pakistan depends heavily on road freight for cargo movement between Karachi’s ports and major industrial and commercial centres across Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
During the August strike, freight vehicles remained off roads for days as negotiations continued between transporters and the government.
A prolonged shutdown can affect port cargo clearance, export consignments, factory supplies and movement of agricultural products.
The alliance has not yet called another strike, however. Its current position is that industrial action will resume only if the government fails to make effective progress during the agreed period.
Government Faces 40-Day Commitment Test
The dispute now puts renewed pressure on federal and provincial authorities to implement the August agreement before the transporters’ deadline expires.
For businesses and consumers, two developments will be particularly important: whether the new 5% freight increase is fully passed through to commodity prices and whether negotiations prevent another nationwide transport shutdown.
For now, higher freight rates are taking effect while the strike remains a threat rather than a confirmed action.
If the government fails to satisfy the alliance, however, Pakistan could face another major disruption to its road-freight network only weeks after the previous nine-day strike ended.
