All Pakistan Goods Transporters’ Alliance President Malik Shehzad Awan has criticised the federal government over repeated increases in petroleum prices and warned that transporters could launch protests if agreements made with them are not implemented.
In a statement, Awan said frequent changes in diesel and petrol prices were creating difficulties for the transport sector and adding to economic pressures.
He said rising fuel costs were increasing transportation expenses, which was also leading to higher prices of essential goods.
Awan said the public was facing a daily “diesel and petrol bomb”, while businesses were struggling and unemployment was increasing.
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He added that transporters did not want to raise freight charges repeatedly because fuel prices were changing so frequently.
Awan called on the petroleum minister to reconsider the government’s fuel pricing policy, saying the current approach could create further problems for the government.
He recalled that during the nationwide strike in August, the petroleum minister had assured transporters that fuel prices would not be changed on a daily basis.
According to Awan, diesel prices have increased by Rs23 per litre while petrol prices have risen by Rs25 per litre over the last 18 days.
He stressed that both the federal and provincial governments should fulfil the agreements reached with transporters following the December and August strikes.