Punjab goods transporters end five-day strike after talks with govt

Punjab’s goods transporters announced the end of their five-day strike on Friday following successful negotiations with the provincial government, agreeing to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue. The strike, which began on December 8, was staged in protest against the Punjab Traffic Ordinance 2025, alleged bribery by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), unjustified challans, legal cases, and vehicle seizures by traffic and motorway police. The shutdown severely disrupted the supply chain across the province, affecting the availability of goods in markets. Transporters’ representatives met with Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, who chaired the talks following directives from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The discussions concluded with a reconciliation agreement signed by Haji Sher Ali Chaudhry, central president of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, alongside other officials. Read: 'Pakistan will be completely shut': Transporters announce strike Dec 19 A committee headed by Senior Minister Aurangzeb, including representatives of the transport sector, has been formed to address the concerns raised by the transporters. Its first meeting is scheduled for Saturday, during which discussions between the minister and the transporters will continue. Welcoming the decision, Aurangzeb said all matters would be resolved through “mutual understanding,” adding that the government’s objective was to protect human life and improve conditions for all citizens. Haji Sher Ali Chaudhry expressed hope that the committee, established under the orders of CM Maryam, would effectively address the transporters’ issues. “Promises made to transporters have not been fulfilled so far, but we hope the committee will prove helpful in resolving our problems,” he said. Other transporter representatives present at the talks included Muhammad Riaz Khan Tajik, Chaudhry Maqbool Hussain, Rana Tariq Mushtaq, Malik Ijaz, Malik Maroof, Saif Shah Deen Gujar, Faisal Basheer Bhatti, Malik Javed, and Haji Pervez Awan. Business bodies warn of supply chain crisis The development comes after the business community earlier in the day continued to express concern over the economic fallout of the strike. President of the Multan Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (MCSTSI), Sheikh Umair Saeed, urged the Punjab government to intervene immediately to restore the province’s supply chain. He appealed to CM Maryam to resolve the issue on priority, warning that small and medium traders, shopkeepers, and factory owners were suffering losses due to acute shortages of stock, adding that several industrial units had been shut for three days owing to the non-availability of raw material, affecting production and employment. Echoing similar concerns, the All Pakistan Bedsheets & Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) also called for urgent government action. Also Read: Petroleum prices expected to fall by Rs12 per litre In a joint statement, Chairman Imran Mehmood Sheikh, Senior Vice Chairman Syed Muhammad Ahsan Shah and Patron-in-Chief Syed Muhammad Asim Shah said the prolonged disruption had stranded hundreds of vehicles carrying export consignments and raw material. They warned that factories were unable to continue production, while demurrage and detention charges were mounting, increasing the risk of export orders being cancelled. “Supply chain disruption is very detrimental, and if immediate remedial steps are not taken, the losses may become unbearable,” they said, adding that the situation threatened the textile sector, the national economy and foreign exchange earnings. The association urged the chief minister to intervene, noting that uninterrupted movement of raw material and finished goods was essential for sustaining industrial activity and honouring export commitments. APBUMA expressed optimism that the government would recognise the gravity of the crisis and ensure the restoration of export container movement without delay.

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