RAWALPINDI: The Goods Transporters Association on Thursday staged a protest at Raja Bazaar against new axle load policy and heavy fines by Motorway and Highway and local police.

The association closed their warehouses in Raja Bazaar and adjoining areas and refused to transport goods from the garrison city. They led a rally from Gunjmandi to Fawwara Chowk led by its president Shakeel Qureshi and others.

Protesters were carrying placards and chanted slogans against the government. The speakers demanded a uniform axle weight system to be implemented throughout Pakistan.

They said that the strike would be continued till their demands were met.

They said that heavy vehicles that exceed the weight limit should be sent back from the check post on existing points of the district or allowed to established warehouses instead to impose heavy fines. They said that motorway police should be instructed not to issue challans without violation.

They demanded that the patrolling police’s authority to issue goods transport challan should be withdrawn and that the increase in toll tax rate should be reversed, with security given to drivers in tough areas. An effective policy should be implemented to eliminate looting on the highways, they demanded.

Weight Management Systems (Kanta System) should be installed at the exit point of every city and legislation should be made in relation to vehicle body manufacturing. Improper checking by customs authorities should be stopped.

Talking to Dawn, Goods Transporters Association president Shakeel Qureshi said that the transporters had to pay heavy fines in case of additional loads and Motorway, Highway and local police also harassed the transporters.

He said that the Regional Transport Authority Secretary contacted and requested to end the strike but he informed that the strike would end after the assurance of the government to consider their demands. He said that the strike would continue till the demands were met and the KP Goods Association and Karachi’s association also supported the transporters.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir told Dawn that all of the businessmen were worried about the economic policies of the government. “The wheat flour mills association, traders, wholesale and retailers are protesting but the government turned blind eyes to their demands,” he said.

When contacted, RTA Secretary Rashid Ali said that the demands of the goods association were sent to Lahore and the government would take up the matter. “We requested the association to end the strike so the business activities will not affect,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2024