ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Transporters across Punjab, including the twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi, are observing a complete wheel-jam strike today.
According to reports, the Transport Action Committee announced a province-wide shutdown today, along with confirming full participation from its Rawalpindi chapter.
It warned that, unless the demands were met, a second phase of the strike, involving the total suspension of public and goods transport, would follow on December 10.
The Islamabad Transport Federation announced complete support for the action, as the vice president termed the fines as “unacceptable” and announced a complete strike in the federal capital.
The major transport terminals, including general bus stands, wagon stands, and truck terminals, remained completely shut in Faisalabad, causing thousands of passengers to be stranded.
Similarly, Rawalpindi is being put through a shutdown, where local and inter-city public transport services have suspended all their services. School, college, and university van services were also suspended, which disrupted the daily routines and caused vast inconveniences to the commuters.
In Okara and various other cities, transporters parked vehicles at stands and decided to continue the protest until the fine structure is revised.
The Transporters Grand Alliance spokesman, speaking on behalf of the transporters, demanded immediate relief from heavy penalties, cautioning that goods and passenger vehicles would remain off the roads indefinitely unless the government addresses their grievances.
Earlier, the Chairman of the United Transport Association announced that all bus stands will remain closed from today onwards. He said that the transporters’ strike will be held across Punjab, and it is possible that this strike will continue for an indefinite period. The government should understand the problems of transporters. It is unfair to impose a fine of Rs 2,000 on a motorcyclist who earns Rs 25,000.
Goods transporters have also announced their support for the strike of the Pakistan United Transporters Action Committee.
Transporters’ leaders announced a complete closure of all terminals on December 8 and said that the new laws and fines introduced by the Punjab Assembly are condemnable. And this is an unnecessary burden on transporters. The leaders have called for the amendment in the laws to be implemented by transporters.
