Wheel-jam strike suspends public, goods transport in protest against ‘crushing’ fines
RAWALPINDI:
All transport organisations — including the Transport Federation, United Transport Union, Inter-City Transport, Goods Transport and all inter-district transport unions — have announced a complete wheel-jam strike of public and goods transport today against heavy traffic fines, penalties and vehicle impoundment.
They warned that if heavy fines and vehicle impoundment were not stopped, a second wheel-jam strike this week would be held at the national level, and transport operations from Khyber to Karachi would come to a halt. Today, no vehicle will depart from the General Bus Stand Pirwadhai, 44 small and large transport terminals across the district, and three goods transport terminals.
“Send us to jail if you want, register cases if you like — but the strike will be complete,” the leaders said, adding that the current government was “squeezing the blood of the public.”
They said the protest would remain peaceful but no transport would run. “The government has made transporters a scapegoat — it takes loans itself but forces transporters to pay through heavy fines,” said Transport Federation Vice President Asif Khan and Chairman United Transport Association Islamabad-Rawalpindi Muhammad Irfan Niazi.
They said the Punjab government had implemented the amended Transport Ordinance 2025, under which all transport-related sectors were being fined hundreds of thousands of rupees.
“Employees earning Rs25,000 are being humiliated publicly with fines worth millions,” they said. “From transporters to common citizens — everyone is suffering due to fines and harsh laws. Until the common man is safe, the transporter cannot be safe.”
They questioned how imposing a Rs2,000 fine on a motorcycle could be justified.
They warned that if the government failed to implement their charter of demands, they would be forced to halt their vehicles. “On 8 December, all A, B, C, D category bus terminals will remain closed,” they said.
They further stated that they had transported people out of Afghanistan for the government at a mutually agreed rate of Rs25,000 per vehicle, but payment had still not been made.
“The government tests us and then tries to shut down our own households. We will defend the lawful livelihood of our children,” they said.
They added that the wheel-jam strike would take place across Punjab along with Rawalpindi and Islamabad and could continue indefinitely.
Chairman Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi said their charter of demands included no fines on public transport from northern areas and Kashmir for passenger luggage overload; issuance of route permits and one-window operations without penalties; extending permit validity to three years; and one-window operation for special permits and fitness certificates at bus stands.
He said that no police officer should carry out legal action against loader vehicles nor be authorised to file complaints against them.
In response to a question, United Transport Association President Raja Khaqan Jameel said the charter of demands also called for the removal of Traffic Book Challan Code 24; limiting motorway fines to one challan; and restricting all police stations from taking action against public or loader vehicles.
He said the steep increase in toll plaza fees was unacceptable and that no vehicle should be fined after obtaining a fitness certificate.
He said government actions had destroyed their businesses, and therefore, the traffic ordinance must be withdrawn immediately.
“If not, we will be compelled to go for a complete wheel-jam strike on Monday. This is our legal right; we are not against the government but will certainly raise our voice against injustice,” he said.
