Islamabad: Goods transporters have announced a further 5% increase in freight rates following the recent rise in petroleum prices. All Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan said that diesel prices had increased by Rs20 per litre and petrol prices by Rs24 per litre over the past four days. He said petrol and diesel prices had already increased by up to Rs23 per litre between August 20 and September 7. Malik Shahzad Awan termed the government’s decision to change petroleum prices on a daily basis unacceptable. He said the Petroleum Minister had assured transporters during their nationwide strike from August 8 to 17 that petroleum prices would not be revised on a daily basis. He said transporters had postponed their nationwide strike for 40 days based on assurances given by the federal and provincial governments. He warned that if the agreements reached with the government were not implemented, transporters across Pakistan would once again launch a nationwide strike. According to Awan, the federal and provincial governments had requested 40 days to resolve the issues, and the deadline is due to expire next week.