News
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Karachi transporters to hold strike on 10thBy Haris Hanif
KARACHI: The Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) has announced to keep public transport off roads in the city on April 10 in protesting against fresh raise in the prices of petroleum products.
President KTI Irshad Shah Bukhari told Daily Times that they would not call off their strike unless the government withdrew the fresh raise altogether. To a query, if government reduces the increase to some extent, will they call off strike, he replied that the only thing that could oblige transporters is withdrawal of the complete raise.
When asked about the other option, if the government does not withdraw the current increase, will they increase fares, he replied that they were not demanding increase in fares but wanted withdrawal of the recent raise.
He said that since the fares were raised last year the diesel had been increased up to Rs 29 per liter while Rs 23 per kg in CNG, which resulted in meeting both ends meet.
He said that the transport fraternity was stronger than any political party, adding, the hike in POL prices was not acceptable to the transporters community, as the burden of increased costs would fall on the already-poverty stricken people of the metropolis.
The transporters across the country had given a three-day ultimatum to the government to withdraw hike in POL prices. “We will call a transport strike in the city for indefinite period if our demands are not met,” he added.
The KTI president also demanded of the government to pay them compensation money for vehicles torched or damaged during 2009 Ashura procession.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk