KARACHI, March 18: As many as 15 transport organizations have announced that they would go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday against an increase in the prices of petroleum products.

“If the transporters’ demand for reversing the price of POL products is not accepted, the transport bodies will stop transportation of medicines, oil and other merchandise throughout the country,” said Mian Nisar Afzal, chief coordinator of Karachi Goods Carrier’s Association, after two days of deliberations of the 15 organizations.

He said if their demands were not met, 113,000 trucks and trailers would observe a wheel-jam throughout the country.

The continuing strike by the oil-tanker owners and transporters over-shadowed the agenda of Tuesday’s meeting of the provincial cabinet.

In view of the critical situation, the cabinet did not take up the law and order situation and assigned the ministers to try to bring the strike to an end.

The transporters were adamant on the acceptance of their demands and efforts by the Sindh transport and education ministers could not succeed in convincing them to call off their strike at this critical juncture.

Since the matter was primarily concerned with the federal government and the PSO, the transporters were waiting for their representatives.

Talks were still continuing on late Tuesday night between the transporters and the government — represented by federal petroleum secretary and some provincial ministers.