LAHORE: Transporters have announced a wheel-jam strike across Punjab for Monday (today) against the amended transport ordinance and the imposition of heavy fines for traffic violations in the province.
Transporters from the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have also declared support for the wheel-jam strike scheduled for Dec 8. The United Transport Association chairman stated that all bus terminals will remain closed on Monday.
He said the strike would be observed across Punjab and could possibly continue for an indefinite period. The government, he added, should understand the difficulties faced by transporters. Imposing a fine of Rs2,000 on a motorcyclist who earns only Rs 25,000 a month was unfair.
Goods transporters have also announced their support for the strike called by the Pakistan United Transporters Action Committee. Transport leaders announced that all terminals will remain completely closed on December 8, stating that the new laws and penalties introduced by the Punjab Assembly were condemnable and place an unnecessary burden on transporters.
Calling the amendments “economic murder” of transporters, the leaders demanded that the government immediately withdraw the oppressive measures. They said public interest was being ignored in the government’s decisions, which was unacceptable.
Addressing a press conference, the Transporters Grand Alliance demanded that the Punjab government immediately withdraw the Traffic Ordinance 2025, warning that if the decision was not reversed, goods transport and public transport vehicles will not operate on the roads. They said that if their demands were not met, the strike will continue indefinitely. They rejected the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025, stating that the heavy fines introduced under the new regulations were an injustice to transporters and have made the transportation of goods increasingly difficult.
The transporters further stated that drivers were being treated like criminals by registering cases against them. They added that while the driving licence fee is Rs1,200 across the rest of the country, it is Rs12,000 in Punjab.
