Transporters on Thursday ceased goods supplies to seaport temporarily to protest against, what they called, the police and customs monthly extortions and trucks hijacking on highways. Talking to Business Recorder, transporters said they will go for an indefinite strike if the government did not pay attention to their major issues. "We are struggling to invite the government's attention to solve our long-running problems but so far none has contacted us," they said.
However, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) officials said "seaport operations were going on smoothly". They said the KPT was responsible to maintain cargo and ship handlings which continued unabated. Officials said the KPT has however assured the transporters of providing them with an increased parking space at around fish harbour. "They, transporters, have just one complaint with the KPT which was about lack of ample space for parking their vehicles somewhere close to fish harbour. The KTP assured them of fulfilling their demand," they added.
Transporters said the government should save them from high handedness of police and customs officials, besides the FBR should also withdraw a 500 percent increase in advance income tax. However, vice chairman of Supreme Council of All Pakistan Transporters Association, Khan Dil Khan Niazi, rejected the transporters strike, saying "the strike is unjustified as the government has agreed to solve the problems of transporters".
After the government's assurances, he said, there is no need of going for strike. "It is a small association of just three unions which have created chaos at seaport," he added. "Sailing and berthing of ships and import and export cargo handling continued without any disturbances. The strike has nothing do with KPT at large," they made it clear. Dil Khan Niazi said "chairman FBR and Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar have held meeting with representatives of transporters who agreed to scale back the annual tax rate from Rs 5 to Rs 3 per kg applied on all goods carriers in the country". He said there is no reason for transporters to go for strike.
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