Punjab braces for wheel-jam strike today against new traffic rules
Business
Punjab’s transporters announce a complete strike from Monday, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Traffic Ordinance 2025
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Private transport operators across Punjab, including Lahore, have announced a wheel-jam strike from Monday (today), declaring that they will suspend all operations in protest against the Traffic Ordinance 2025.
The announcement was made during a press conference by the Transporters Grand Alliance, which warned that both goods and public transport vehicles would remain off the roads if their demands were not met. Goods transport, mini-Mazda vehicles, loaders, and rickshaws will also join the strike. Intra-city, inter-district, and inter-provincial transport will remain suspended.
The alliance called for 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.
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.
