Transport strike extended as talks end in deadlock

Public transport operators keep buses off the roads, citing heavy e-challan fines

KARACHI:

Commuters in Karachi are set to face another day of travel disruption after the Karachi Transport Alliance announced that its citywide public transport strike will continue on Friday, following the failure of negotiations with provincial government representatives.

The alliance observed a wheel-jam strike on Thursday, bringing much of the city's public transport network to a standstill and leaving thousands of commuters struggling to reach offices, factories and workplaces.

Buses, minibuses and coaches remained largely absent from the roads as transport operators parked their vehicles at terminals and depots. The strike significantly affected daily commuters who rely on public transport, with an estimated 8,000 buses, minibuses and coaches serving the metropolis on a regular basis. Speaking to the media, Karachi Transport Alliance President Haji Tawab Khan said talks with the Sindh government failed to produce a breakthrough, prompting transporters to continue the shutdown.

"The deadlock remains unresolved, and no meaningful outcome emerged from the negotiations," he said. "As a result, public transport services will remain suspended on Friday as well." According to transport operators, the strike was called after repeated attempts to engage with various government departments failed to address their concerns. Their primary demand is a reduction in the penalties imposed through the electronic traffic challan system.

Transporters argue that the current mechanism has resulted in fines that far exceed their earnings.