PM defers axle load policy for a year.

Byline: Mubarak Zeb Khan

ISLAMABAD -- Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked the Frontier Works Organisation to defer the implementation of axle load condition in a move to appease the agitating traders protesting against the government's documentation drive.

Chairing a meeting of his economic team, the premier also tasked Finance Adviser Dr Hafeez Shaikh and Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Shabbar Zaidi to work out a better package for traders in consultation with the visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to an official source, he asked Zaidi to meet with traders on Monday to further discuss their demands. 'We will hold a meeting with the traders on Monday,' FBR chairman also confirmed to Dawn.

The chairman said that his team is regularly meeting the representatives of traders and the finance adviser will also be holding talks with IMF on their proposals. 'We will sort out some deal for them,' he said.

Soon after the direction of the prime minister, FWO deferred the implementation of the axle load policy on M-9 motorway for one year. The decision was taken at the request of the trader community.

All these measures are in line to pacify the agitating traders, who have already announced countrywide protests scheduled for Oct 29 and 30.

Transporters involved in Afghan transit trade have also complained about the strict implementation of axle load condition implemented by the National Highway Authority (NHA).

Traders believe that NHA implementation of these measures is stricter in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and not in Balochistan, which leads to diversion of trade to that province.

The agenda also included discussing...