All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association had postponed a nationwide strike for 40 days following talks with government officials on Sunday, ending a nine-day stoppage that had disrupted the supply of vegetables and other commodities to markets.

Negotiations between transporters and government representatives were held at the Governor House in Karachi, attended by Sindh Governor Nihal Hashmi, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and transporters’ president Malik Shahzad.

Shahzad said the strike had been postpones after the government gave assurances on the transporters’ demands, including parking facilities and the pricing mechanism for petroleum products.

He said the Sindh government had assured transporters that parking issues would be addressed, while the federal government had sought 15 days to consider their concerns over petroleum product pricing.

Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan also assured transporters that a committee would be formed to consider reducing toll taxes and review related issues, Shahzad said.

The government has also assured transporters that 10-wheeler vehicles would be allowed their proper weight limit, he said, adding that some issues had already been resolved by the federal and provincial governments.

Other demands will require cabinet approval, while meetings of various committees will continue, Shahzad said. He warned that transporters could resume protests if the government failed to honour its assurances.

Khan said progress had been made on the transporters’ outstanding demands and several committees had been formed to address the remaining issues.

He said the Karachi-Hyderabad road could not be considered a motorway and that a new motorway project linking Sukkur, Hyderabad and Karachi would be launched this year.

Sindh Governor Hashmi said the government and transporters had sought to resolve their differences through negotiations, adding that both sides had agreed to cooperate in the national interest.

Karachi Mayor Wahab said the Sindh government would address issues under its jurisdiction and that efforts were being made to resolve all outstanding matters through dialogue.