• Claim sector forms backbone of economy, yet not prioritised by govt; allege HTV licences not being given
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uncertain
licences → form → govt
Police say regulations for HTV licences in place, 7m violations committed by goods vehicles this year
ISLAMABAD:
asserted
regulations → say → vehicles
As their vehicles are once again being used to stop protesters from reaching Islamabad, truckers have said the government move has not only “paralysed” the economy but also adds to a litany of their existing grievances.
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move → use → grievances
An estimated 400,000 goods vehicles, excluding oil tankers and mini trucks, form the backbone of the logistics network that caters to all major industries and employs millions of people through direct and indirect jobs, they said, adding that despite being a key sector of the economy, they were unfairly treated by the government.
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they → exclude → government
They alleged “unfair taxes”, “routine seizure of trucks and containers”, “poor road network”, “excesses by the police and regional transport authorities”, and issues surrounding the HTV licences.
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They → allege → licences
The motorway and traffic police denied most of their allegations, including the absence of a proper licensing regime, in separate versions shared with Dawn.
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motorway → deny → Dawn
It may be noted that goods transporters routinely go on strike to press the government for their demands, most recently in August over daily fuel prices and axle-load limits, among other issues.
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transporters → note → issues
Their ability to disrupt the entire supply chain often results in the acceptance of their demands, but these remain stopgap measures.
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these → disrupt → demands
All Pakistan Good Transport Owners Association President Imdad Hussain Naqvi said they were the government’s “least priority” despite serving “more than 30 million people every day”.
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they → say → people
He said their trucks and containers had been seized two weeks before the Sept 27 long march.
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trucks → say → march
“This practice has paralysed the country’s economy.
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practice → paralyse → economy
The long march will be staged on Sept 27, but our vehicles and containers were confiscated more than two weeks ago,” he rued.
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he → stag → Sept
Accompanied by the office-bearers of other associations, Mr Naqvi said that instead of the Ministry of Communications, there must be a separate ministry for transportation.
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Naqvi → accompany → transportation
He also said that unless they were given the status of a full-fledged industry, their problems would persist.
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problems → say → industry
Mr Naqvi complained that 90 per cent of the truck drivers had LTV driving licences due to an “overly complicated process of converting LTV into HTV licence”, a claim denied by the traffic police.
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cent → complain → police
He also talked about the condition of roads across the country, “excessive” taxes and fines, alleged bribes by the regional transport authorities (RTA), and delays in the issuance of provincial route permits.
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He → talk → permits
All Pakistan Friends Traders and Trucks/Dumpers Owners Association President Muhammad Rafiq Khan accused weighing stations of overloading trucks in return for heavy bribes.
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Khan → accuse → bribes
He claimed their letters to the communications ministry remained unanswered.
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letters → claim → ministry
Transport Alliance Chairman Malik Shafaullah Awan said a truck paid Rs35,000 in terms of toll tax from Karachi to Lahore on N-5 (GT Road), besides the petroleum levy on diesel.
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truck → say → diesel
Police deny allegations
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Police → deny → allegations
Meanwhile, a motorway police spokesperson denied most of the allegations and said the police continued to undertake sustained and effective enforcement measures against Goods Transport Vehicles (GTVs) to ensure compliance with traffic laws and promote road safety.
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police → deny → safety
Since January 2026, during the enforcement process, over 7 million traffic violations committed by goods vehicles have been identified, checked and dealt with as per law, the spokesperson said, adding that approximately 692,225 violations related to axle load have been identified and dealt with as per law.
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violations → commit → law
There is a proper licensing mechanism for HTVs under the NHMP Drivers Licensing Authority Rules 2014 that specifically prescribe the procedure and eligibility requirements.
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that → be → requirements
The National Highways Authority, however, acknowledged the dilapidated state of roads due to the paucity of funds.
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Authority → acknowledge → funds
“We have 14,480 kilometres of roads across Pakistan and the total income NHA fetched through toll was Rs128bn last year; besides, we only get Rs9bn from the government for road maintenance,” NHA General Manager Aftab Badar added.
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Badar → have → maintenance
The official said the NHA has to spend its funds on those roads too where it did not get income.
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it → say → income
“Our 42 per cent of funds are utilised in Balochistan but we received very minimal toll tax from there,” he added.
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he → utilise → tax
NHA GM (revenue) Ahmed Hassan said NHA denied that any NHA toll plazas were running on an interim basis and added that out of 183 toll plazas, 63 were under the control of Frontier Works Organisation, and 120 were supervised by the NHA.
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120 → say → NHA
The Aporia
