KARACHI: The Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association and the All-Pakistan Goods Carriers Owners Association on Tuesday announced that they were calling off their ongoing protest immediately after a meeting with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail here at Governor House.
Earlier the Oil Tankers Association had announced that it would go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday if Pakistan State Oil (PSO) did not review its policy to refuse filling their old tankers.
The association withdrew the decision after intervention of the governor who got them relief of two months from the PSO so that some feasible solution could be found for replacing 20-year-old oil tankers.
The governor gave assurance to the association to have their meeting arranged with Ports and Shipping Minister Syed Ali Zaidi and Minister of State for Communication Murad Saeed to also sort out the issue regarding National Highway Authority and excise and taxation for charging high toll tax.
In the meeting after listening to the problems from a joint delegation of both bodies’ representatives comprising Mir Shams Shehwani, Nisar Jafri, Haji Babar and others, Governor Ismail said that solution of any problem could be find through negotiations.
The governor said that it was the vision of present government to resolve problems of all stakeholders on priority basis who were playing important role in the economy of the country.
Speaking to journalists, the governor said that it was a correct decision of replacing 20-year-old tankers, which was also supported by transporters.
He said that after the Ahmedpur tragedy, in which 240 people perished, laws were drafted which stated that vehicles which were over 20 years old would not be used. Owners of oil tankers had assured that they would improve the condition of their vehicles, he added.
Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018
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