Local transporters, oil tanker owners, and the Goods Transport Association declared that they will completely join the nationwide strike. Their announcement has increased tension across the country’s entire transport network.
Local transport operators said they will stand with transporters nationwide during the ‘8 December strike’, calling it a decisive protest against government actions.
The Goods Transport Association also backed the strike, saying that the situation has become so difficult that protest is the only option left. They claimed that government policies have pushed the sector to the breaking point.
During a meeting with representatives of different transport groups, Tariq Gujjar announced their participation and said that drivers in Punjab are facing unnecessary FIRs and vehicles are being seized without reason. He added that transporters are under extreme pressure because of these actions.
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He said that from Monday evening, all transport work at Karachi’s ports will be completely shut down as part of the protest.
Shehzad Awan claimed that thousands of cases have been filed against drivers under amendments to the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, and dozens of transporter vehicles are parked in police stations across Punjab. He alleged that all this is being done on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The senior vice chairman of oil tankers said the Punjab government must stop what he called unfair actions against transporters. Khanzada Khan Mehsud demanded immediate steps from the government to save the transport sector from collapse and bankruptcy.
This strike reflects deep frustration in the transport sector. Many groups feel they have no other choice left. The claims about FIRs and vehicle seizures add to their anger. Closing work at the ports shows how serious the situation has become. If no dialogue happens soon, the disruption could grow even worse.