Marriyum Aurangzeb meets transporters’ representatives as Punjab CM forms committee to resolve issues
Punjab goods transporters announced the end of their five-day strike on Friday after successful negotiations with the provincial government and agreed to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue.
The strike, which began on December 8, was held in protest against the Punjab Traffic Ordinance 2025, alleged bribery by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), unjustified challans, court cases and vehicle seizures by the traffic and highway police. The closure severely disrupted the province’s supply chain, affecting the availability of goods in markets.
The transporters’ representatives met Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who chaired the talks on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The discussions concluded with a reconciliation agreement signed by Haji Sher Ali Chaudhry, central president of Pakistan Freight Transport Alliance, along with other officials.
A committee, headed by Marriyum and comprising representatives from the transport sector, has been formed to address the concerns of transporters. Their first meeting is scheduled for Saturday, where talks between the minister and the transporters will continue.
Welcoming the decision, Aurangzeb said all issues would be resolved through “mutual understanding”, stressing that the government’s objective was to protect human life and improve the conditions of all citizens.
Haji Sher Ali Chaudhry expressed hope that the newly formed committee, set up under the CM, would effectively address the problems of transporters. “The promises made to the transporters so far have not been fulfilled, but we hope that the committee will help solve our problems,” he said.
Other representatives of the transporters present were Muhammad Riaz Khan Tajik, Chaudhry Maqbool Hussain, Rana Tariq Mushtaq, Malik Ijaz, Malik Maroof, Saif Shah Deen Gujar, Faisal Basheer Bhatti, Malik Javed and Haji Pervez Awan.
Business community warns of supply chain crisis
Earlier on Friday, business groups expressed concern about the economic consequences of the strike. Sheikh Umair Saeed, president of Multan Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries (MCSTSI), urged the Punjab government to immediately intervene to restore the province’s supply chain.
He warned that small and medium traders, traders and factory owners were suffering losses due to severe shortage of stocks, and several industrial units remained closed for three days, impacting production and employment.
Similarly, Pakistan Upholstery and Bed Sheet Manufacturers Association (APBUMA) called for urgent government action. In a joint statement, President Imran Mehmood Sheikh, Senior Vice President Syed Muhammad Ahsan Shah and Patron-in-Chief Syed Muhammad Asim Shah said hundreds of vehicles carrying export consignments and raw materials were stranded.
They warned that factories could not continue production, while demurrage and detention charges increased, raising the risk of export order cancellations. “The disruption to the supply chain is very disruptive and if immediate corrective measures are not taken, the losses may become unbearable,” the statement said.
APBUMA added that the situation threatened the textile sector, the national economy and foreign exchange earnings, and urged the prime minister to ensure uninterrupted movement of raw materials and finished products to sustain industrial activity and meet export commitments. They expressed optimism that the government would recognize the severity of the crisis and act quickly to restore the movement of export containers.
