Pakistan transporters call off strike

Pakistan cement manufactures and exporters are breathing a sigh of relief following the announcement
that the United Goods Transporters Alliance (UGTA) have ended their 11 day strike. An agreement was reached following successful negotiations with a two-member government committee formed by Pakistan Prime Minster Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, late on Wednesday night.

M. Shoaib Khan, General Secretary of UGTA, told CemNet News that the government had accepted a number of points on their agenda of requirements which included safety, protection, and relaxation in trucks loads particularly for imported coal for the cement industry on motorways.

He said the Motorway Police would not fine transporters for three months over the issue of loading, adding that the 40,000 UGTA members would start operating their vehicles from today. 

The transportation fo goods has been suspended across the country during the protests, leading to local industries and exporters suffering huge financial losses. The cement industry was facing shortages of raw material deliveries to production sites, and concerns were mounting that that the strike would disrupt the delivery to retail sites as well as export markets.

The truckers were on an indefinite strike due the enforcement of a revised maximum load limit that commercial vehicles can legally carry as well as security issues.