LAHORE(National times)- The Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance has announced a 4 percent increase in transport fares following a rise in petroleum product prices. Speaking on the issue, President of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, Malik Shehzad Awan, strongly criticised the federal government’s decision to increase diesel prices, calling it unacceptable. He said that due to the hike in petroleum prices, transporters had no option but to raise fares by 4 percent, adding that increases in fuel prices affect every citizen of the country. He alleged that both the federal and Punjab governments were pushing transporters into a corner. Malik Shehzad Awan recalled that during the recent transporters’ strike, the federal government had assured them of a reduction in petroleum prices. He further stated that agreements reached with the federal and Punjab governments during the strike on various issues had not been implemented. He added that commitments made by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan were not being honoured by the motorway police. The transport alliance president warned that if the agreements were not implemented, transporters would be left with no choice but to launch another nationwide strike, holding both the federal and Punjab governments responsible for any resulting losses. The government has increased the price of diesel by Rs11.30 per litre, taking the new price to Rs268.38 per litre. Meanwhile, the price of petrol has been maintained at Rs253.17 per litre for the next 15 days.