The government declared trucking business as an industry in 2008 but there is no law by regulatory authorities to take care of drivers.
HTV drivers are highly paid in developed countries but underpaid in Pakistan. The average salaries of drivers are PKR 15,000 to PKR 20,000 (USD 150 to USD 180 per month) and the majority of drivers do not have an original HTV driver’s license. The lack of a license provides an opportunity to traffic police, motorway police and highway police to give undue challans/fines and take bribes from drivers, which increases the cost of doing business.
Sometimes the challans/fines are more than the toll tax.Eventually these costs are being paid by consumers.The most pressing need today is to empower drivers by testing their skills and awarding an original HTV license so they can compete in cross-border trade and drive more safely.
We also need to address social and economic issues of drivers: why they feel there is no respect of the driving profession, why they do not want their children to continue in the same profession, why there is no system or regulatory bodies for their development from truck operators or truck owners.Under the Transport Workforce Program, the City Organization (welfare) will work with all stakeholders, like drivers, truck owners, operators, driver’s license offices and the government’s Transport Department to resolve issues being faced and to improve working and living standards of the workforce in the road transport sector.
It will also provide membership to drivers and small truck owners and operators to provide their details and join the program for their betterment.
Strong logistics and transportation services can enhance the competitiveness of our economy. In contrast, inefficient supply chains with high transport and logistics costs could impede export and import flows, which may increase costs for firms, especially those competing in the export market.
HTV drivers are highly paid in developed countries but underpaid in Pakistan. The average salaries of drivers are PKR 15,000 to PKR 20,000 (USD 150 to USD 180 per month) and the majority of drivers do not have an original HTV driver’s license. The lack of a license provides an opportunity to traffic police, motorway police and highway police to give undue challans/fines and take bribes from drivers, which increases the cost of doing business.
Sometimes the challans/fines are more than the toll tax.Eventually these costs are being paid by consumers.The most pressing need today is to empower drivers by testing their skills and awarding an original HTV license so they can compete in cross-border trade and drive more safely.
We also need to address social and economic issues of drivers: why they feel there is no respect of the driving profession, why they do not want their children to continue in the same profession, why there is no system or regulatory bodies for their development from truck operators or truck owners.Under the Transport Workforce Program, the City Organization (welfare) will work with all stakeholders, like drivers, truck owners, operators, driver’s license offices and the government’s Transport Department to resolve issues being faced and to improve working and living standards of the workforce in the road transport sector.
It will also provide membership to drivers and small truck owners and operators to provide their details and join the program for their betterment.
Strong logistics and transportation services can enhance the competitiveness of our economy. In contrast, inefficient supply chains with high transport and logistics costs could impede export and import flows, which may increase costs for firms, especially those competing in the export market.
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