More than 1,000 goods transport vehicles have been seized in Islamabad during the ongoing crackdown on transporters, causing an estimated Rs. 50-80 crore loss so far, according to the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association.

Muhammad Owais Chaudhry, President of the association, said the vehicle seizures have continued for more than two weeks in Islamabad. The vehicles include cargo containers, flatbed trailers, Mazda trucks, 10-wheelers and other commercial vehicles.

He said vehicles are also being seized in Rawalpindi, Jatli, Tarnol, Mandi Bahauddin and other districts to prevent transporters from holding protests and sit-ins.

According to the association, many of the seized vehicles are carrying cargo. It warned that delays could damage the goods and prevent shipments from reaching their destinations.

The association has called on the government to immediately release all loaded vehicles to prevent further losses.

Chaudhry also rejected reports that the government is hiring the vehicles and paying transporters Rs. 20,000 per day.

He said the government has not contacted transporters or paid compensation for the seized vehicles.

The association has demanded that the government prepare a complete record of all seized vehicles and ensure that compensation reaches their actual owners.

It has proposed a minimum payment of Rs. 20,000 per day for empty vehicles and called for an immediate end to the use of private commercial vehicles to block protests and sit-ins.

The association also asked the government to provide detained vehicles and their drivers with proper security, food and other basic facilities. It said many drivers have remained at different locations for long periods to protect their vehicles.

According to the association, the seizures have already caused losses of Rs. 50-80 crore to transporters.

It warned that the losses could rise to billions of rupees if cargo is damaged or shipments are cancelled.

The association has demanded that the government obtain complete data on vehicles held at police stations, calculate compensation based on the number of days each vehicle has been detained at Rs. 20,000 per day, and release all vehicles immediately.

The figures and claims were made by the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association and have not been independently verified.