Goods transporters went on strike on December 4 to protest inaction against the criminals who continue to hijack loaded trucks on highways, besides the bad attitude of motorway police, President Karachi Goods Carrier Association (KGCA), Khalid Khan, told Business Recorder.
"The goods transporters strike will lead to a huge financial loss due to delays in shipment to global markets," Central Chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA), M. Jawed Bilwani, told Business Recorder. He said a large number of exporters are feared to fail to catch ships for loading their export-bound cargo because of the transporters strike. "The strike will cause a huge financial loss to exporters to supply their consignments by air," he showed apprehensions.
Official sources said the national highway authority had limited the transportation of coal clinker to 50 tons while the transporters were against the weight restrictions. "Transporters believe the weight restriction will increase their costs of transportation and stop their loaded trucks at Karachi port since December 4," they said.
Bilwani termed the transporters strike "justified" which is in protest against the "strong bhatta mafia and frequent kidnapping of drivers and their loaded trucks on highways. He said the lawlessness on highways has forced the transporters to go on strike.
A group of 37 different unions of goods transporters formed United Goods Transporters Alliance which is on strike since December 4 for indefinite period against the growing insecurity to their trucks and crew besides the heavy handedness of National Highways and Motorway Police, Khalid Khan said.
KPT sources said that there were a large number of loaded trucks standing with Nato military vehicles, which the strike may also put on hold for days. They said the coal clinker halt has, however, given a much-needed relief to the resident of Keamari as they were largely suffering breathing problems from dust. They said dozens of trucks loaded with coal dust would go round the clock from Karachi port.
When contacted, KPT spokesman told Business Recorder that "port operations continue unabated as ships were loading and unloading cargo round the clock". He said the transporters strike has not affected the supply of import and export bound cargoes as the port has other transportation sources like NLC and railways to depend on. The goods transporters in afternoon also staged a protest demonstration on Native Jetty to press the government to fulfil their demands. Hundreds of transporters participated in the sit-in which latter peacefully dispersed. They said they will not end strike until government meets their demands.