Negotiations between the Punjab Government and transporters have been successfully concluded, with all outstanding matters resolved. Transporters warmly welcomed Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s decision to grant the transport sector the status of an industry and announced their full support for the government’s initiatives.
The meeting, chaired by Senior Provincial Minister Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb, was attended by representatives of goods and public transporters. At the conclusion of the meeting, transporters formally announced the end of their strike, and a joint communiqué was issued.
According to the joint communiqué, four permanent committees have been established to improve, develop, and address issues faced by the transport industry. These include the Goods Transport Committee, Mini Mazda Transport Committee, Public Transport Committee, and Staff Duty Vehicle Committee. Punjab Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar has been appointed as the central coordinator for these initiatives.
All committees will compile recommendations from transporters and submit them to Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. The government and representatives of the transporters will present the final recommendations to the nation in a joint press conference next Wednesday. The committees will work on a permanent basis to monitor transport-related issues and review the implementation of recommendations, with formal meetings to be held every three months.
The joint communiqué stated that all proposals would be finalized within three days, while a one-month timeframe has been set for administrative actions. The Traffic Ordinance 2025 was jointly reviewed by the government and transporters, with agreement reached on further improvements and effective collective implementation. It was clarified that no provision related to diyat has been included in the Traffic Ordinance 2025.
It was decided that challans would be issued on the basis of evidence, and no repeat challan would be issued for the same offence in a single journey. The challan process on routes will be regulated through the Electronic One App to eliminate duplicate challans.
The communiqué further stated that the Punjab Government would play a bridging role with transporters from other provinces, and that measures similar to those in Punjab would be encouraged in other provinces to address traffic laws and transporter-related issues. On the demand of transporters, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb will present recommendations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the federal level for the resolution of transporters’ issues.
The Punjab Government reaffirmed its commitment to bringing the transport industry up to international standards, promoting allied sectors, and ensuring the adoption of modern technologies and practices. Legal and administrative reforms, infrastructure improvement, and reforms in the challan and fine system will be undertaken in this regard.
Issues related to overloading, axle weight, vehicle size, and fitness will be resolved through consultation with transporters. Acknowledging the role of the transport sector in smog mitigation, the government also assured an increase in vehicle inspection and certification (VICS) stations and the expansion of shift systems. A comprehensive plan will be prepared for mobile fuel testing and the improvement of lorry stands in Multan, Rawalpindi, and other cities.
Addressing the meeting, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that the government’s objective is to promote business growth, protect human life, and provide the best travel facilities to the public. She emphasized that the protection of every life, system improvement, implementation of global standards, and development across all sectors are the government’s top priorities. She added that only through mutual cooperation and joint efforts can the quality of life for the people of Punjab be improved.
Marriyum Aurangzeb thanked the transporters for their cooperation and stated that the government believes in resolving issues through dialogue and consultation. She clarified that the sole purpose of the Traffic Ordinance 2025 is to protect the lives of children and citizens and to ensure discipline on the roads, adding that a permanent consultative mechanism has been established to eliminate communication gaps.
Transporters expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif for the open-hearted consultation, cooperation, and sincere efforts toward resolving issues, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue working with the government to ensure the implementation of traffic laws and improvement of the overall system.