The President of Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI), Muhammad Saleem Memon, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing transport strike across Punjab and other parts of the country. He stated that the prolonged dispute between transporters and the government is causing significant losses to the business community, particularly traders dealing in perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, and other commodities.
Mr. Memon highlighted that the recurring transport strikes, followed by prolonged negotiations and delays in resolving issues, have become a persistent problem. As a result, traders ’ valuable goods remain stranded in transit, often spoiling, resulting in losses worth billions of rupees that are extremely difficult to recover.
The HCSTSI President pointed out that the current strike was triggered by the Traffic and Vehicle Ordinance, which imposes heavy fines, repeated challans, FIRs for minor violations, and other additional burdens on transport operators. On the other hand, traders are already under severe pressure due to daily demurrage, delay charges, various port taxes, and rising operational costs. The ongoing situation is therefore placing enormous strain on traders, as delays cause goods to spoil while the continual increase in taxes each week further worsens the problem.
Mr. Memon urged the government to engage in immediate negotiations with transporters and work toward a fair and workable solution. He also called for a review of heavy fines, unnecessary challans, FIRs for minor offenses, and other provisions that increase the financial burden. At the same time, he stressed that transporters must consider the national economy and ttraders’business interests by ending the strike and engaging constructively in dialogue with the authorities.
He further emphasized that the government should include all stakeholders, including traders and transporters, in the formulation of transport policies to ensure balanced regulations. Additionally, special relief measures and a dedicated compensation package should be introduced for businesses dealing in perishable goods to safeguard them against losses. The ongoing increase in port and highway taxes and charges must also be immediately halted to prevent further financial pressure on traders.
Mr. Memon concluded by highlighting that the country’s economy is already under significant strain, and such transport crises only exacerbate the situation. He urged both the government and transporters to resolve the matter on a priority basis to prevent further losses of billions of rupees and to ensure that business activities continue without disruption.
