Goods transporters have announced the end of their 10-day nationwide strike today after successful dialogue with the government.
According to a spokesperson for the Goods Transporters Association, the government agreed to most of the demands, leading to the end of the strike immediately. However, the representative of the Goods Transport Association confirmed that vehicle movement will resume from tonight.
Goods transporters have several genuine demands, including amendments in transport laws, withdrawal of FIRs against drivers and fellow transporters, arranging space for almost 1000 containers at ports and the clearance of stuck vehicles at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The association have a demand of deployment of mobile licensing vehicles at highways and motorways to issue LTV and HTV on the spot.
Goods Transporters Association President, Malik Shehzad Awan, confirmed that the government representatives from the federal, Punjab, and Sindh assured the association that all the demands would be completely accepted.
Also Read, Wheel-jam strike hits Punjab after transporters reject new traffic fines
Transporters in Punjab and Rawalpindi announced a wheel-jam strike for Monday to protest heavy fines and demanded that the provincial government immediately withdraw the Traffic Ordinance 2025.
At a joint press conference in Lahore, leaders of the Pakistan Transport United Action Committee rejected the ordinance, saying the government was imposing unfair heavy fines through it.
They warned, “Public transport will stay shut until the ordinance is withdrawn.”
They added that goods transport, minibuses, loaders, and rickshaws would also join the strike, while intra-city, inter-district, and inter-provincial services would remain suspended.
The first round of talks between transporters and the Punjab government failed, and the next meeting is scheduled for 2 pm today, according to the transport association.
Responding to the strike, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar said the police would not bow to any pressure or “blackmailing.”
He stressed that driving without a licence leads to fatal accidents and added that in civilised countries, people follow the law instead of challenging it through strikes.
He said driving without a licence was like having a “licence to kill.”
