Across the country, including Nowshera and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the wheel-jam strike by goods transporters has entered its fourth consecutive day. Transporters have staged sit-ins at the Attock-Khairabad Bridge, Rashakai Interchange and Tarujabba. The protest has caused long queues of vehicles on major highways.

Sikandar Khan, provincial president of the All KP Goods Transport Association, said the strike would continue until their demands are accepted.

He said inflation, daily fluctuations in diesel prices, and increases in toll taxes and other taxes have created serious difficulties for goods transporters. According to him, drivers are allegedly harassed for refusing to pay bribes.

During the protest, the air was reportedly let out of the tyres of dozens of trucks that violated the strike, while there were also reports that goods were thrown onto the roads from some trucks. Protesters chanted slogans against the government and its policies.

Also Read : Trapped Between Poverty and Danger: The Story of Shangla’s Coal Miners

Haji Atlas Khan, provincial general secretary of the All KP Goods Transport Association, said the transporters had presented several demands to the government. These include ending daily changes in diesel prices, restoring toll taxes to the rates applicable on June 30, 2024, reducing withholding tax to 2 percent, and withdrawing recent increases in token, permit and fitness taxes.

He also demanded an end to what he described as unfair treatment by motorway and traffic police, heavy fines imposed for overloading, and alleged harassment of transporters during inspections by Customs, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Excise authorities.

According to the transporters, all cargo vehicles will only unload goods at factories and ports, while the loading of import and export containers from ports and factories has been completely suspended.

Haji Atlas Khan warned that if their demands are not accepted, the next phase of the protest will involve blocking highways across the country. Transporters from Karachi to Khyber will march towards Islamabad and stage a sit-in in front of the assembly, which will continue until their demands are accepted.