LAHORE/RAWALPINDI: The transporters have ended their strike against heavy traffic fines following an agreement with the Punjab government, sources told Geo News on Monday.
The sources said that the transporters had reached an understanding with Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan, following which it was agreed that implementation of the new traffic rules would be halted and the wheel-jam strike would be called off. This was the second round of talks after the first round had failed.
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, however, dismissed reports of any order suspending the implementation of the Traffic Ordinance 2025.
"Such speculations are completely false. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has once again ordered strict and effective enforcement of traffic laws across the province," she wrote in an X post.
The minister noted that CM Maryam has directed authorities to deal firmly with anyone failing to comply with the rules.
Aurangzeb emphasised that the lives of the public and their children "would not be compromised".
Punjab's transporters had announced a wheel-jam strike for today to protest heavy fines, calling on the provincial government to immediately withdraw the Traffic Ordinance 2025.
Addressing a joint press conference in Lahore, Pakistan Transport United Action Committee leaders categorically rejected the ordinance, saying that heavy fines were being collected through the ordinance. They described it as "unfair" to transporters.
"Public transport will remain suspended until the ordinance is withdrawn," warned the transporters.
Goods transport, mini buses, loaders, and rickshaws had joined the strike, while intra-city, inter-district, and inter-provincial transport services were to remain suspended, they added.
Reacting to the transporters' strike, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar had said that they would not bow down to any “blackmailing” or pressure.
"Driving without a license is tantamount to inviting death and accidents," he added.
The Punjab IG said that in civilised countries, the law is upheld rather than challenged through strikes. He added that driving without a licence is a "licence to kill," a practice that exists nowhere else in the world.
The Punjab police last week issued at least 63,970 challans worth over Rs80 million in 24 hours as part of an ongoing crackdown on traffic violators.
A police spokesperson said the challans had been issued to vehicles and motorcycles across the province.
At least 28,000 challans were issued in a single day for helmet violations, and 4,312 for other traffic rule breaches, the spokesperson had added.
Furthermore, the police confiscated 23,904 vehicles, the official had said.
