Transporters Strike Day 4: Deadlock Persists as Govt Talks Fail

Pakistan – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – The transporters strike day 4 continued on Tuesday after fresh talks with federal and Sindh officials failed to end the standoff. Goods transporters across the country kept their vehicles off the road, and the impasse shows no sign of easing.

Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Federal Petroleum Minister Pervez Ali Malik sat down with transporter leaders in Islamabad on Tuesday. The meeting was meant to find common ground, but it ended without any real progress.

The All-Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance sent a strong team to the table. Chaudhry Qamar Zaman Gul, Malik Shabar Khan, Nisar Hussain Jafri, Imdad Hussain Naqvi, and Chaudhry Owais joined alliance president Malik Shahzad Awan for the discussion.

After the meeting, Awan told reporters that the talks were detailed but did not solve anything. He said the government and the transporters are still far apart on every major issue.

Awan made it clear that the strike will not stop until their demands are met. He added that transporters have no plan to back down, no matter how long the protest lasts.

He also criticized the government’s approach so far. Awan said officials keep giving assurances, but none of those promises have turned into real action on the ground.

So what exactly do the transporters want? Their list of demands is long, but a few points stand out as the biggest sticking points.

One major demand is a single, nationwide axle-load rule. Right now, enforcement differs from province to province, which transporters say creates confusion and unfair treatment.

They also want permission for 10-wheel trucks to legally carry loads up to 35 tonnes. This change alone could ease pressure on many transport businesses struggling with tighter limits.

Fuel costs are another big concern. Transporters are pushing hard for a cut in diesel prices, since fuel expenses eat deep into their earnings every month.

Toll taxes are also on the table. The alliance wants toll charges reduced, arguing that current rates make long-haul trips far less profitable than before.

Tax relief is a recurring theme too. Transporters are asking the government to ease the withholding tax burden that adds extra pressure to their already thin margins.

Perhaps the most sensitive demand involves customs law. Transporters want the government to withdraw rules that let authorities seize vehicles over customs violations, calling the practice too harsh.

As things stand, both sides remain stuck. With no fresh round of talks announced yet, the transporters strike day 4 may soon stretch into a longer standoff, leaving supply chains and daily commerce under growing strain.