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KARACHI, Aug 24: Sindh Minister for Transport Akhtar Hussain Jadoon has expressed concern over the adverse effects of the crippling strike being observed by truckers in the city, and appealed to the transporters’ associations to call it off in public interest. He observed that the demands put forward by the striking truckers concerned the federal government and not the Sindh government.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, the minister said that representatives of the Supreme Council of All Karachi Goods Transport Ittehad had called on him on Aug 18 and presented their demands, which included a cut in oil prices, withdrawal of toll tax, etc.
He said he had made it clear to the delegation that the issues fell in the purview of the federal government. They were also informed that the provincial government had conveyed their proposals to the federal government and it was in constant touch with the ministries concerned.
Mr Jadoon said that the issues, like reducing Motor Vehicle Tax (MVT tax), leasing of the Maripur truck stand, etc, were supposed to be considered by the provincial government and, therefore, he had assured the delegation that these problems would be considered and resolved soon.
He observed that the Trailer Owners Association and some other organization had since called off their strike and brought their 500 vehicles to roads but some associations were continuing with the strike. He appealed to the Supreme Council of All Karachi Goods Transport Ittehad and other organizations of goods transporters to end the strike as it was undermining the national economy, besides the provincial kitty.
Some transporters adamant
The Karachi Transport Action Committee (KTAC), supported by the Anjuman Ittehad Bus Malikan Karachi, have announced that the goods transporters’ strike would continue till the acceptance of the demands already put forward to the Sindh government.
KTAC President Mohammad Ashraf Banglori, Chaudary Mazhar Hussain, Tanzeem Khan and Nazeer Banglori said in a joint statement issued here on Sunday that the Goods Transport Ittehad (GTI) had submitted to the government a set of demands which were genuine and must be accepted.
They criticized the government for its “apathy” towards the aggrieved transporters’ demands, and observed that supplies of essential and other commodities had badly been affected due to the strike. They noted that the strike was affecting supplies across the country and causing heavy losses to the national exchequer.
They urged the government to initiate a dialogue with the striking transporters to find a solution to the problem.
They said that the transporters’ grievances were genuine and needed to be addressed.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Council of Goods Transport Ittehad has threatened to extend the strike to an indefinite period on Monday if the government failed to meet its demands.
A spokesman for the organisation on Sunday warned that the scope of the strike would also be widened to other cities if the government continued to adopt a stubborn attitude.—Agencies
