Punjab transporters to strike on December 8 over heavy traffic fines

Transport unions announce two-phase shutdown, protesting new traffic laws

The Transport Action Committee has announced a province-wide strike on December 8 in protest against heavy traffic fines. The committee’s Rawalpindi chapter confirmed that transporters will observe a complete strike that day over the widespread issuance of penalties across Punjab.

The committee stated that in the second phase, there will be a complete strike of public and goods transport on December 10.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Transport Federation has also announced its support for the strike. The federation’s vice president said the heavy penalties were unacceptable and that they would observe a complete strike.

The strikes oppose the Punjab Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025, enforced by the provincial government in late November. These laws impose significantly higher fines for a wide range of violations, which include speeding, signal violations, and overloading.

They aim to improve road safety and mitigate environmental hazards across the province. However, these laws aren’t necessarily being enacted with the original intent in mind.

The traffic police issued over 76,000 challans in a 48-hour crackdown last week alone. They collected fines exceeding Rs71.2 million across the province as part of a crackdown on traffic violations, a spokesperson said.

The operation was launched under a zero-tolerance policy implemented on orders of DIG Traffic Muhammad Waqas Nazir. Police registered 1,402 FIRs for serious traffic violations and impounded over 13,000 vehicles, while 1,390 violators were imprisoned, the spokesperson said.

The fines have placed a heavy burden on drivers without significantly improving road safety. Restrictions on the movement of goods could slow the flow of essential products, creating supply bottlenecks that reduce demand and raise costs. Transport associations are calling for revised penalties to ensure smoother logistics.

The planned public transport strike underscores a widening gap between traffic enforcement and drivers’ ability to keep up with rising fines. Whether authorities address these concerns or wait out the disruption will determine how the standoff unfolds.