The Pakistan Transport Alliance has presented a 12-point charter of demands against the Traffic Ordinance 2025 and has declared that its nationwide strike will continue until the government withdraws the ordinance.
Alliance leaders held a press conference in Lahore, where they demanded the immediate reversal of the new traffic law. They argued that the ordinance imposes unfair penalties on transporters and must be withdrawn without delay.
Transporters demanded that authorities stop issuing unnecessary challans to vehicles with complete documentation and simplify the process of obtaining driving licenses. They also urged the government to grant industry status to the transport sector, issue new route permits, and halt challans from the time applications are submitted until permits are issued.
They further demanded a reduction in toll taxes, the removal of unnecessary toll plazas, and improvements in the vehicle passing system. They also called on the government to ensure timely registration of police cases in incidents involving the kidnapping of transporters or theft of transported goods.
Pakistan Transport Alliance President Haji Sher Ali said the strike will continue until the government withdraws the ordinance. He added that drivers have submitted their vehicle keys as a symbolic protest.
Alliance Chairman Riaz Tajik said he informed the transport minister that the strike would not end until the government meets their demands. He claimed that some transporters accepted government assurances as “lollipops,” but the alliance would not compromise. He also claimed that the ongoing strike has already caused the government billions of rupees in losses.