The goods transporters' strike on Wednesday entered into third day, halting all movement of cargos across the country that left the trade with an additional financial burden of over Rs 350 million approximately in terms of shipping charges.

Talking to Business Recorder, Ghulam Yasin chairman United Goods Transport Alliance (UGTA) said that no government authority has so far approached them for further negotiations. "The strike, which enters in its third day, will continue till the acceptance of the demands," chairman UGTA said.

He said that the government should enforce axel-load-regime as per the court's directives and cargo loading should be controlled from the source except.

In addition, all goods transporters have demanded the prime minister to give the charge of federal minister for communication to any individual, who has ample knowledge about this important sector. Moreover, the process of driving license should be simplified, speedy and corruption-free, and for that purpose licensing authority should be centralised.

Meanwhile, Arshad Jamal chairman All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) said that the import of industrial raw material and its re-export are being affected as the ramification of the transporters' strike.

He termed the demands of the transporters genuine saying that the law must be implemented to avert the hazardous impact of overloaded goods carriers that deteriorates road infrastructure and gulps human lives on regular basis.

Furthermore, he urged the terminals and shipping agents to waive off port charges and containers rent during strike as an additional financial burden of over Rs 350 million in terms of shipping charges (US$100 per container) was created on the trade.

Arshad said the country, which was passing through great economic stress, could not afford such agitation.