The Transporters of Goods Association (TGA) on Saturday called off its strike following successful negotiations with Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, allowing the transporters six months to ensure the fitness of their vehicles.
The goods transport strikes commenced earlier this week over the Sindh government’s demand for all heavy vehicles to have a physical fitness certificate amid rising incidents of traffic accidents. The strike had entered its fifth day on Saturday, with growing calls from various groups for a resolution. On Friday, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry had urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene, noting the prolonged closures were preventing the timely export of perishable items and triggering demurrages charged in U.S. dollars on cargoes.
According to the TGA, the organization agreed to end its strike after the Karachi administration permitted them to ensure the fitness of their vehicles gradually, with all vehicles to be fully compliant within six months. Subsequently, it said, commercial activities at Karachi’s ports had resumed, facilitating the restoration of import and export activities.