Transporters jam wheels across Punjab against traffic rules

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Private transport operators across Punjab, including Lahore, observed a wheel-jam strike on Monday (today) against the Traffic Ordinance 2025.

In Lahore and across Punjab, itracity and intercity transport has been suspended following the transporters’ announcement of a wheel-jam strike. Numerous bus terminals and booking offices on Shera Kot, Bund Road are closed, causing severe inconvenience to passengers.

Due to the suspension of transport, the delivery of goods in various cities has come to a halt. With the supply of items disrupted, there are concerns about shortage of edibles and other items.

RTA BELIES TRANSPORTERS' CLAIM OF EFFECTIVE STRIKE

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has stated that despite the strike, transport is operational on urban and intercity routes.

RTA Secretary Asad Shirazi said that intercity service has been continuing from all D-class stands, while e-buses and the metro service on urban routes are providing travel facilities to passengers.

He said that action would be taken according to the law against those who use force. Vehicles providing pick-and-drop services already have a designated number of passengers allowed under their route permits. There can be no compromise on the lives and property of citizens.

Shirazi added that the report on the ongoing operations on intercity and urban routes has been sent to the provincial government.

He said that D-class stands had assured yesterday that they would not participate in the strike.

It may be recalled that the transporters alliance urged the Punjab government to immediately withdraw the Traffic Ordinance 2025. Representatives said the proposed measures would place an excessive burden on the sector, citing what they described as disproportionately high fines and penalties. They stated that the new regulations had made the movement of goods increasingly difficult.

Transport leaders added that drivers had been turned into “criminals” under the current enforcement approach, with cases being filed against them across various routes. They also highlighted discrepancies in licensing fees, noting that while the driving licence fee across the country stands at Rs1,200, it is Rs12,000 in Punjab.

They cautioned that if the government did not accept their demands, the strike would continue for an indefinite period, affecting goods supply chains and inter-city passenger movement across the province.

The first round of talks between the transporters and the Punjab government has failed. According to the Transport Association, the next round of negotiations will be held today at 2 pm.

IGP REACTION

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr. Usman Anwar said that in civilized countries, people support the implementation of law, not strikes.

He said that driving without a license is equivalent to inviting death and accidents, and that they will not succumb to any blackmailing when it comes to protecting the lives of schoolchildren.