The strike was announced by the Transporters Grand Alliance, which said that all public and commercial vehicles, including buses, mini trucks, loaders, and rickshaws, would remain off the roads. Intra-city, inter-district, and inter-provincial transport services have been suspended, disrupting daily travel and supply chains.

Transport leaders have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the new traffic law, arguing that it places an unreasonable financial burden on drivers and transporters. They claim that steep fines and strict penalties have made it difficult to conduct business and move goods smoothly across the province.

Also Read: Nationwide transporters’ strike expands – why are they uniting on Dec 8?

The alliance also expressed concerns over the treatment of drivers, stating that enforcement practices have resulted in cases being registered against them, effectively criminalizing routine transport work. They also highlighted a major difference in licensing costs, noting that while the national driving license fee is around Rs 1,200, the fee in Punjab has been raised to Rs 12,000.

Talks between transporters and the Punjab government have so far failed to reach a settlement. A new round of negotiations is expected to take place later today, but transport leaders have warned that the strike may continue indefinitely if their demands are not accepted.

Punjab’s police chief, Dr. Usman Anwar, defended the new regulations, emphasizing that laws are meant to protect lives. He stated that unlicensed driving increases the risk of fatal accidents and that the authorities will not compromise on road safety, especially when it comes to protecting schoolchildren.