Four joint committees to engage carriers and address regulatory and operational issues
Punjab senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb on Thursday announced the end of the nationwide transport strike after talks with transporters, saying four joint committees would address the sector’s concerns.
Transporters called off the strike after ending negotiations with the Punjab government following talks between representatives of All Pakistan Transporters and senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb.
The decision followed talks about the carriers’ concerns. In a joint statement, carriers said the strike was called off after receiving government assurances and agreed to continue discussions through formal committees.
Alhamdulillah, thanks to the guidance of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the cooperation of the transporters, the nationwide strike of transport has ended. گدز, منی مزدا, public transport اور ستاف دویتی وهیکل کیمیتون کی ذ
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) 18 December 2025
The strike was called to demand changes in transport laws, withdrawal of FIRs and fines against drivers and vehicle owners and allocation of designated space for containers at ports. Transporters also sought clearance of vehicles stranded at the Pakistan-Afghan border and deployment of mobile licensing units on expressways and highways to issue LTV and HTV driving licences.
Read: ‘Transporter strike disrupts supply chain’
In Sindh, the strike disrupted cargo movement from Karachi Port and Port Qasim, causing a huge backlog of containers. The All Pakistan Customs Agents Association reported that around 25,000 import containers, including edible oil, industrial raw materials and consumer goods, were awaiting clearance, while nearly 15,000 export containers failed to reach the ports. Business leaders warned that the halt in transport had put trade and industry under pressure, with exporters facing the risk of missing shipment deadlines and financial losses.
According to a release from the government office, transporters welcomed the decision to grant industry status to the transport sector and agreed to a joint review of the Road Traffic Regulation 2025. Four joint committees covering freight transport, mini-mazda transport, public transport and personnel vehicles have been set up to work with stakeholders and prepare recommendations for the sector.
The committees will function throughout the year and will review transport-related issues in coordination with the government. Representatives of All Pakistan Transporters are expected to visit Lahore in the coming days to continue the consultations.
Addressing the media after the meeting, senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb said the strike had ended after negotiations and the government would continue negotiations to resolve outstanding issues. She added that stalemate is not in anyone’s interest and improvement can only come through engagement.
Aurangzeb said the transport and traffic system will be developed in accordance with international best practices with a focus on safety and operational efficiency. She noted that 2.1 million driving licenses have been issued following the recent reforms, as many drivers had previously been driving without a license.
Read more: Freight forwarders’ strike shocks trade as containers pile up at ports
She described the ongoing reforms as the first phase of a wider process, adding that transport-related issues in areas such as Badami Bagh and Chiniot would be addressed as a priority. There are also plans for a modern bus terminal and four vehicle inspection stations.
The senior minister said drivers would not be fined unnecessarily and confirmed a proposal for a new transport-related scheme has been approved. She added that steps are being taken to modernize the sector, including technology-based enforcement measures such as e-challan systems.
Transporters said they had conveyed their concerns to the government and expressed willingness to continue dialogue through the newly formed committees.
