A nationwide wheel-jam strike is set to begin on August 8 after transporters’ associations announced a complete suspension of freight operations in protest against rising operational costs, frequent fuel price revisions and what they described as unfair treatment by authorities.
The Pakistan Mini Mazda Association and the All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association said the strike could bring cargo movement across the country to a standstill, warning that imports and exports may face serious disruptions if the government fails to address their concerns.
Addressing a joint press conference in Lahore, Pakistan Mini Mazda Association Central President Tanveer Jatt urged the government to hold immediate talks with transport representatives. He demanded that petroleum prices be revised on a monthly basis instead of daily and called for relief from toll taxes and excessive traffic fines, arguing that current policies have placed an unbearable financial burden on transport operators.
All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association President Chaudhry Owais Gujjar stressed that axle-load regulations should be enforced strictly according to the law and alleged that corruption had become widespread during implementation. He also claimed that transporters, despite paying billions of rupees annually in toll taxes, continue to face poor road infrastructure, which contributes to accidents.
Gujjar further accused officials of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretariat and the Highway Patrol Police of routinely harassing transporters on highways, urging the authorities to focus on their official responsibilities instead of creating difficulties for drivers.
Transport leader Khalid Arain said the government’s policies had left transporters with no option but to protest. He maintained that transport operators in Pakistan receive little support despite paying advance taxes and claimed that no compensation had been provided to vehicle owners whose trucks were destroyed in militant attacks.
He also criticized the heavy use of traffic fines, saying overloading rules should be enforced through consultation rather than punitive measures. Arain expressed hope that the dispute could be resolved quickly if meaningful negotiations were held between the government and transport representatives before the strike begins.
