The government has said issues facing goods transporters will be resolved soon and invited their representatives for talks in Islamabad on Monday (today), as a nationwide strike over daily diesel price revisions and higher toll charges entered its second day.

The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance began the strike on Saturday after talks with the government failed to produce a breakthrough, threatening disruptions to domestic supply chains and exports in a country that relies heavily on road freight to move goods between ports, factories and markets.

Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan assured representatives of the alliance during a video-link meeting on Saturday that all their “legitimate demands” would be addressed on a priority basis, his ministry said in a statement.

“Issues of goods transporters will be resolved soon,” he was quoted as saying.

The minister invited a delegation of transporters to Islamabad on Monday for detailed discussions on their concerns.

The transporters have demanded that the government withdraw its decision to revise diesel prices daily and instead determine them on a monthly basis.

Pakistan previously revised petroleum prices every fortnight but moved to daily revisions amid volatility in global energy markets following the outbreak of the US-Iran war in February.

The alliance is also seeking restoration of toll rates that were in effect on June 1, 2024, a halt to further increases and a one-year ban on establishing new toll plazas.

It has demanded that a seven percent withholding tax imposed on goods transporters be reduced to two percent and called for uniform enforcement of axle-load regulations across the country, with overloading controlled at the point of origin.

Khan said the government would begin implementing its axle-load policy immediately and made clear that “not a single overloaded vehicle” would be allowed to enter motorways.

The minister said transporters had expressed support for the government’s axle-load policy and urged them to cooperate in protecting motorways and national highways from damage caused by excessive loads.

“If we do not sit together and discuss our issues, how can we move forward,” he said during the meeting, according to the ministry.

He also ordered the inspector general of the motorway police to act against corruption in the force, saying officials found taking bribes would be dismissed and face criminal cases. 

The government is going to launch ‘Vision Pakistan 2047’ on August 12 as a crucial step toward realising the aim of one trillion dollar GDP and long-term economic growth and development.

According to sources in the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will formally unveil the “Vision Pakistan 2047” program which would establish a long-term framework for strengthening the country’s economy, development and sustainable economic growth.

The vision would include unique programs that will give the younger generation possibilities for sustainable economic growth, prosperity and innovation, sources added.

The government has also agreed to introduce Uraan Pakistan Plan of Ministry of Planning, in line with Vision Pakistan 2047. In this context, the Prime Ministers Office has solicited from all the ministries and concerned institutes targets for Vision Pakistan 2047.

All ministries have been asked to submit strategic aims, reforms and long term development agenda for the vision.

The plan would also address economic transformation, national development, human capital development and technology.

The government has also mandated to include targets linked to climate sustainability and governance reforms in Vision Pakistan 2047.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) started the new trading week on a high note, with robust purchasing activity sending the benchmark KSE-100 Index back above the 182,000-point threshold. This was a promising start to the new trading schedule.

The index reached 182,347 points at the beginning of Monday’s trading session, having gained more than 900 points from the previous day’s close.

A comeback from the previous session, when the KSE-100 Index had finished at 181,430 points at the end of the previous trading week, was underlined by the strong opening that occurred during the previous session.

Early trading was dominated by optimistic emotion, which was reflected in the most recent increase, which brought the benchmark index back to the region of 182,000 points.