In a move that will directly impact businesses and consumers nationwide, goods transporters in Pakistan have announced a 20% increase in their fares. The fare hike follows the federal government’s recent decision to raise petroleum prices, which has put significant pressure on the logistics and freight sector.
According to Nabeel Mehmood, President of the All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association, the fuel price increase is only part of the problem. Ongoing construction of new toll plazas by the National Highway Authority (NHA) along major national routes has further driven up operating costs for transporters. These additional tolls mean higher expenses for every trip, which transporters say they have no choice but to pass on to their customers.
Adding to the burden are substantial fines imposed by motorway police, which many operators argue are often excessive and contribute to an already strained budget for truck owners and fleet operators.
Goods Transport Fares In Pakistan
The combined effect of rising fuel prices, new toll plazas, and fines has sharply increased the cost of transporting goods between Pakistan’s major cities. For example, the cost of moving a single container from Lahore to Karachi has surged from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 120,000. Similarly, the fare for transporting goods from Lahore to Peshawar has risen from Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 96,000, and the Lahore to Rawalpindi rate has jumped from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 72,000.
Long-haul routes have also seen significant hikes: transporting a container from Karachi to Lahore now costs Rs. 350,000 instead of Rs. 300,000, while the Karachi to Peshawar route has climbed from Rs. 400,000 to Rs. 500,000. Goods transport between Karachi and Rawalpindi now stands at Rs. 500,000, up from Rs. 400,000.
Transporters warn that these higher freight costs will likely translate into increased prices for everyday goods, affecting supply chains and inflation levels across the country. Nabeel Mehmood emphasized that if the government halts the construction of new toll plazas and addresses the concerns about excessive fines, transporters may reconsider and possibly lower the newly imposed fare rates.
As businesses brace for the impact of these higher logistics costs, the transport sector is urging the government to consult stakeholders and find balanced solutions that do not burden both operators and the general public.
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