ISLAMABAD: Goods transporters have demanded the immediate release of containers and other vehicles being retained by police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, warning that prolonged detention could result in significant financial losses and damage to perishable goods.
President Goods Transport Ittehad Malik Shahzad Awan said medicines, edible items and other essential goods loaded in the detained containers could expire or deteriorate if the vehicles remained held for an extended period.
He urged the federal and Punjab governments to release all detained containers and other transport vehicles immediately. According to Shahzad Awan, the vehicles were not being released despite directions reportedly issued by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
The transporters’ leader warned that the federal and Punjab governments would be responsible for any losses suffered by transporters or damage to the goods because of the continued detention.
He called on the government to make alternative arrangements to deal with the ongoing protest instead of disrupting the movement of commercial cargo and affecting economic activity.
“The federal government should look to alternate arrangements to stop the protest instead of taking hostage to the economy,” Shahzad Awan said.
He stressed that the goods transport sector plays a vital role in keeping the national economy running and should not be drawn into political disputes.
“Our vehicles are not to block the roads but to run the national economy,” he added.
In an earlier statement, the transporters’ leader claimed that around 700 containers had been retained by Islamabad and Punjab police. He said the detained containers were carrying goods worth crores of rupees.
According to Shahzad Awan, the cargo includes edible items as well as materials required by key industries. He expressed concern that continued delays in transportation could affect businesses, supply chains and consumers if essential goods were unable to reach their destinations on time.
The transporters have urged authorities to resolve the matter immediately and ensure that commercial vehicles are allowed to resume their normal operations.
They also called for coordination between the federal and provincial authorities to prevent further disruption to the movement of goods and avoid financial losses to transporters and businesses.
