Local goods transporters’ associations have declared a nationwide strike starting tomorrow, warning that the protest will continue indefinitely until all their demands are met. According to officials, transport operations across the country—including port activities, loading, and unloading—will come to a complete halt, potentially causing major disruptions in the supply chain.
Malik Shehzad, President of the Transporters Goods Association, urged the government to take immediate notice, stressing that transporters are fully mobilised and will not resume work until their grievances are addressed.
He stated that the government cannot expect transporters to “completely shut down their business” without resolving long-standing issues affecting their operations. The strike decision, he said, reflects the growing frustration within the sector.
The impact of the protest is already being felt in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, where the delivery of essential goods has slowed significantly. Numerous trucks and containers remain parked as transporters prepare for the nationwide shutdown. Shehzad warned that the government will bear responsibility for delays in the delivery of necessities as the strike intensifies.
Tariq Gujar, President of the Local Goods Transporters Association, said the decision to strike was unanimous, made collectively during a recent meeting of transporters. Starting tomorrow, all loading, unloading, and transport activities will cease across Pakistan, affecting markets, industries, and supply routes.
Meanwhile, Shakeel Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance, criticised the government for mixed signals during negotiations. Although the Transport Minister initially assured them that key issues would be resolved, the Punjab government later denied any such progress in a tweet.
Qureshi reiterated that the protest would continue until the transporters’ demands are fully approved, leaving the situation at a standstill as the shutdown approaches.
