Transport strike called off
For four days, Karachi's roads echoed with absence. Office workers scrambled for costly alternatives, students struggled to reach universities and bus stops overflowed with stranded commuters. However, the city finally received a measure of relief as the transport strike that had disrupted daily life for thousands came to an end following successful negotiations between transporters and the city administration.
The Karachi Transport Ittehad formally called off its four-day wheel-jam strike after what leaders described as productive talks with the Karachi commissioner on Sunday. Public transport vehicles, including buses, minibuses and coaches, are expected to return to the roads and resume normal operations from today (Monday).
A delegation of the transport alliance, led by President Haji Tawab Khan and Secretary-General Muhammad Ilyas, met the Karachi commissioner to discuss a range of issues, including vehicle insurance requirements, biometric regulations and what transporters described as excessive fines and enforcement measures. According to transport leaders, several demands were addressed during the meeting, while issues requiring policy decisions from the provincial government were deferred for further discussion.
Following the negotiations, member organisations of the Karachi Transport Ittehad held a consultative session at the alliance's office on Akbar Road, where they unanimously decided to end the strike.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Haji Tawab Khan formally announced the withdrawal of the protest and thanked both public transport and goods transport operators for supporting the movement.
He said some longstanding concerns had been resolved immediately, while authorities had sought additional time to address matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Sindh government.
Tawab Khan also apologised to commuters affected by the strike, acknowledging the hardships faced by thousands of citizens who rely on buses, minibuses and coaches for their daily travel. "We regret the inconvenience caused to the public, but the heavy penalties and other operational challenges left us with no option but to protest."
The four-day strike had significantly disrupted mobility across Karachi, particularly affecting low- and middle-income commuters who depend on public transport for travel to workplaces, educational institutions and markets.
With the standoff now resolved, transport operators and city officials expressed hope that continued dialogue would help prevent future disruptions and ensure smoother operations for Karachi's already strained public transport system.
The meeting was attended by the secretary of transport, secretary of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the DIG Traffic, the director of excise and the deputy commissioner of Keamari, among other officials.