All Karachi Transport Ittehad (AKTI) and other organisations have announced shutdown transport services from July 22 for an indefinite period in protest against the massive hike in gasoline prices.
Syed Irshad Hussain Shah Bukhari, President, KTI told Business Recorder on Monday that transporters have demanded immediate withdrawal of fresh hike in diesel and petrol rates, which put immense burden on the public, otherwise wheel-jam strike would be observed from Tuesday for an indefinite period.
He said that all associations including the Karachi Bus Owners Association, Mini Bus Association, Karachi Coach Owners Association, Private Bus Owners Association, Milat Mini Bus and Coach Owners Association, Muttahida Transport Owners Association, Anjuman Ittehad Bus Owners, Karachi Road Transport Workers Federation, Sindh and Balochistan Bus Owners Association, Karachi Goods Carrier's Association and Taxi and Rickshaw Welfare Association have agreed to observe strike.
He said that the new government has quadri-increased petrol and diesel rates at Rs 22.63, Rs 20.52, respectively during its short tenure and demanded that the government should immediately restore the previous rates of both gasoline products. "If our demand is not accepted, an indefinite strike would be observed from July 22 for indefinite time," he added. "Instead of overcoming the economic crisis, the government is creating immense difficulties for all segments of the society by raising gasoline prices," Bukhari said.