Transport standstill in Rawalpindi as unions rally against heavy fines

Passengers arriving at bus stands remain stranded, distressed due to lack of available transport

The strike by transporters against heavy fines and the registration of cases under the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Ordinance continues in Rawalpindi. Public and goods transport operators have suspended services across the city.

Office-bearers of the United Transport Federation and representatives of public and goods transport bodies are currently in Lahore. Talks held late last night ended without progress, and a second round of negotiations is scheduled for 2pm today.

Transport services running from Peshawar Road and IJP Road towards Islamabad have been partially restored. Inter-city transport is also present on the IJP Road from Mandi Mor.

On Chakri Road, members of the Suzuki Union have forcibly disrupted the transport system at several points. The Suzuki Union has been removing passengers from pick-and-drop vans and other transport vehicles.

Raja Khaqan Jameel, President of the Transport Welfare Owners Association at the Pirwadhai General Bus Stand, said the strike had been “fully successful”, with not a single vehicle departing from the terminal. He said it was unclear how long the strike would last, adding that it would continue until their demands were accepted.

“We hope the government will take notice,” Jameel said, describing fines of Rs15,000, Rs20,000 and Rs50,000, along with the registration of cases against transporters and drivers, as “unjust”. “No transporter will bring their vehicle onto the road until our demands are met,” he added.

Passengers arriving at bus stands have been left stranded and distressed due to the lack of available transport.

All transport organisations — including the Transport Federation, United Transport Union, Inter-City Transport, Goods Transport and all inter-district transport unions — announced a complete wheel-jam strike of public and goods transport today against heavy traffic fines, penalties and vehicle impoundment.

Read: Transport unions in Rawalpindi announce strike over heavy fines

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 have 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 Chairperson 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 an Rs2,000 fine on a motorcycle could be justified.

Read more: Punjab traffic police stress stricter fines aim to improve road safety

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, and 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.

Punjab traffic police authorities on Tuesday defended the recent amendments to the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965, asserting that the revised penalties are not meant to burden citizens but to ensure long-ignored traffic laws are finally enforced.