The Pakistan goods transport alliance announced a 40 per cent reduction in freight fares following the government’s decision to lower petroleum prices.
Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan welcomed the cut in fuel prices announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling it a positive step for the transport sector and the wider economy. He said the alliance had decided to pass on the relief to the public by reducing goods transport charges.
He expressed hope that fuel prices would be reduced further in the coming weeks. He also urged the government to provide additional relief by lowering toll taxes and withholding taxes, and called on both federal and provincial authorities to ease the overall tax burden on the transport industry.
In his address to the nation, the prime minister announced a reduction of Rs135 per litre in diesel prices and Rs12 per litre in petrol prices. Following the revision, petrol is priced at Rs366 per litre, while diesel now costs Rs385 per litre.
PM said the reduction in diesel prices would benefit the agricultural sector and help bring down public transport fares. He added that it was the government’s responsibility to pass on the benefit of declining global oil prices to the public.
He warned that failure to reduce input costs could undermine farmers’ efforts, especially as the wheat harvesting season has begun, stressing that lowering expenses for growers was essential at this stage.
Read also: Relief for public: Shehbaz Sharif cuts petrol prices
