The Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association has announced a strike in protest against what it describes as excessive fines and challans imposed in Punjab under the traffic ordinance, causing concern among traders and transport-linked businesses.
According to the association, goods trucks from Balochistan will not depart for Punjab today as part of the protest. Association representatives said the strike is aimed at pressuring authorities to immediately withdraw the controversial traffic ordinance, which they claim is creating serious difficulties for goods transporters operating on inter-provincial routes. They added that heavy penalties and frequent challans have increased operational costs and disrupted the movement of goods.
“The traffic ordinance and harsh enforcement measures have made it nearly impossible for transporters to operate smoothly,” a spokesman for the Goods Truck Owners Association said, warning that continued enforcement could further damage trade and supply chains between provinces.
Meanwhile, officials from the All Balochistan Transport Action Committee have issued a clarification, distancing themselves from the strike. The committee stated that transporters, as a whole, have not announced any general strike and that no routes across Balochistan are being blocked.
Habibullah Badini, a senior transport leader, confirmed that bus services within Balochistan will continue as normal and that passenger transport will not be affected. He emphasized that the transport community supports only the legitimate demands of goods transporters and not any action that would inconvenience the public.
“There is no strike on passenger routes, and bus services will operate according to schedule,” Badini said. “We support lawful demands of goods transporters, but there will be no disruption to public transport.”
The Transport Action Committee also reiterated that no province-wide shutdown of transport services has been called and urged the public not to believe rumors circulating on social media.
Talks between transport representatives and relevant authorities are expected in the coming days, with stakeholders hoping for a negotiated solution to avoid prolonged disruption to trade and logistics.
