MANSEHRA: The mining industry on Sunday warned of street agitation if the recently introduced freight management system is not withdrawn without delay.

“The new system introduced by the federal government has adversely affected the mining industry, and if the freight rates are not reversed to their previous position, we will come onto streets against it,” Malik Mohammad Zaheer, general secretary of the mining association, told reporters here.

He said the federal government had prescribed weight limits on all national highways and motorways throughout the country.

He said a 22-wheeler truck that could carry 60 tonnes of weight was now limited only to 37 tonnes, 12-wheelers to 27 tonnes from 40 tonnes and 10-wheelers to 12 from 20 tonnes.

“Since the imposition of the new system we have to bear almost double the fares on transportation of granite and other minerals to markets in Punjab and rest of the country,” he said.

Mr Zaheer said the business community and miners recently met the secretary transport, requesting him to take remedial measures as the district administration had imposed the Section 144 to enforce the federal government’s orders, but to no avail.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024