Cargo movement comes to a halt at ports
RECORDER REPORT
KARACHI: The inward and outward movement of cargos at ports came to a standstill during last two days as no government authority has so far approached the goods transporters to call off strike.
Talking to Business Recorder, Ghulam Yasin chairman United Goods Transport Alliance (UGTA) said that they had a meeting with Governor Sindh on Monday where they presented the charter of demands since then, no government authority has approached them for further negotiations. “The strike 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.
In addition, all goods transporters have demanded the prime minister to remove Murad Saeed as federal minister for communication and take his charge to any individual, who has ample knowledge about this important sector or take it under his own portfolio. Moreover, the process of driving license should be simplified, speedy and corruption-free and for the purpose, licensing authority should be centralized.
“As local goods transporters have assured their support, local goods transportation will also be stopped from January 8 (today),” he said.
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 deteriorating road infrastructure and gulping human lives on regular basis.
Furthermore, he urged the terminals and shipping agents to waive off port charges and containers rent during strike and urged federal government to look into the issue as the movement of around 10000 vehicles at port came to a standstill, providing a colossal loss of around Rs. 2.5 million per day to the trade.
Arshad also advised APCAA members to support the transporters, adding that the country, which was passing through under great economic stress, could not afford such agitation.
