“Survival impossible”: Goods transporters react to fuel price hike

KARACHI: Senior Vice President of the Karachi Goods Carriers Association, Muhammad Safeer Shaheen, said on Friday that the survival of transporters has become nearly impossible following the massive increase in fuel prices.

According to officials, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs138 per litre, bringing the new rate to Rs458.40 per litre. Meanwhile, diesel prices have risen by Rs184 per litre, reaching Rs520.35 per litre.

The sharp rise in fuel prices is expected to significantly increase transportation costs and the prices of essential commodities, raising concerns about further inflationary pressure on the public.

In a video statement, Muhammad Safeer Shaheen termed the recent hike as alarming and warned that it would trigger a severe wave of inflation across the country.

He added that Pakistan is already a poor country where citizens are struggling to make ends meet, and such increases would further worsen their financial difficulties.

He urged the government to reduce fuel prices and cut its expenditures instead of placing additional burden on the public.

He emphasized that citizens do not have the capacity to bear such a steep increase in diesel prices and called on the government to freeze its own expenses rather than passing the burden onto the people.

Meanwhile, many public transporters have already raised fares following the increase in petrol and diesel prices, a move likely to trigger a fresh wave of inflation nationwide.

With the surge in petroleum prices, transport operators in Rawalpindi have significantly increased fares. Taxi, rickshaw, and online bike-hailing services have raised their fares by up to 35 percent, while intercity bus fares in other cities have increased by 25 to 30 percent without official approval.

Transporters stated that the recent increase in petroleum prices is unjustified and that they are unable to reduce fares under the current circumstances.