KARACHI: Goods transporters have called off their prolonged strike after successful talks with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad, Ports and Shipping Minister Kamran Michael and other high officials of Sindh Government.
Shakoor Alam, senior member of United Goods Transporters Alliance, while talking to Customs Today confirmed that they have called off their strike after successful talks with Sindh Government officials and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Their all demands including Fisheries Land, taxes and security matters have been accepted by the high officials and notifications in this regard would be issued soon.
According to details, Federal Minister Ishaq Dar held a meeting with the delegation of transporters here on Sunday at Governor’s House. Acting Sindh Governor Agha Siraj Durrani, Federal Minister for Ports & Shipping Kamran Michael, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, representatives of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and others were also present on the occasion.
The transporters delegation comprised Chairman United Transporters Goods Association (UTGA) Younus Khan Niazi, Chairman Transporters Goods Association (TGA) Haji Anwar Soomro and others were also present on the occasion.
During the meeting, Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar assured the transporters’ delegation that their allotted land at Karachi Fisheries would be freed from land grabbers and their other legal demands would also be accepted.
Dar further assured the transporters’ delegation that the notification regarding the decrease in advance income tax would be issued by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday.
After getting those assurances by the Federal Minister, the transporters called off their prolonged strike.
Later, Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar thanked the transporters for their cooperation.
It is pertinent to mention here that exports and imports were adversely affected by the transporters’ strike, as the thousands of containers were stuck up at ports due to the strike.
The experts were of the view that $20billion loss has been caused by the strike of transporters.