Transporters Call Off Punjab-wide Strike After Govt Agrees to Talks

The strike, which began Monday morning and affected cities across Punjab including the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, was launched in protest over the newly introduced Punjab Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. The ordinance significantly raised traffic fines and allowed for FIRs even for minor infractions, a change that transporters argued would cripple their livelihood.

In Lahore, a delegation from the Muttahida Transporters’ Association met with government representatives led by the provincial transport minister, Bilal Akbar. After hours of negotiations, the transporters’ side agreed to halt the strike. Action-committee member Lala Yasir Naseer told media that the government had agreed “in principle” to revise the new law, suspend harsh penalties and FIRs on commercial drivers, and form committees to review the ordinance with transporter representatives.

Under the agreement, the controversial ordinance’s enforcement on commercial and passenger vehicles will be paused, at least temporarily, and the government has offered a pathway to amend it based on input from transport stakeholders. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for the next day. (Dawn)

During the strike, public transport largely remained off roads — bus stands like Pirwadhai in Rawalpindi witnessed near-empty bays, whereas services such as Qingqi rickshaws, small vans, and some loading vehicles operated in limited commercial zones. Commuters were left stranded, and supply chains for goods experienced interruptions.

With the strike now lifted, officials say transport services will resume and daily life is expected to return to normal — but the bigger story may lie ahead, if the promised review and possible amendment of the ordinance lead to lasting reform.

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