KARACHI: Goods transporters on Wednesday ended a 10-day nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with federal and provincial authorities, restoring the movement of raw materials, industrial goods and export consignments that had remained largely suspended during the protest.
The decision was announced following negotiations between representatives of the Pakistan Goods Transporters Alliance (PGTA) and officials from the federal government, as well as the Punjab and Sindh administrations. The strike had disrupted supply chains across the country, affecting manufacturing, trade and port operations.
PGTA President Malik Shehzad Awan said the strike was withdrawn after the government accepted the transporters’ major demands and signed a settlement document. He made the announcement at a press conference at the Gulbai Truck Stand in Karachi, accompanied by Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who represented the Sindh government.
Nisar Hussain Jafri, chairman of the PGTA, told Dawn that freight movement had resumed following the agreement, which addressed longstanding concerns of transporters. The demands included a reduction in fines, resolution of axle-load limit issues, simplification of heavy transport driving licence procedures, disputes with customs authorities and the motorway police, and objections to provisions of the Punjab Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Ordinance 2025.
Under the settlement, authorities agreed to substantially reduce fines and abolish the registration of FIRs against transporters for traffic-related violations. Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar said fitness certificates issued in Karachi would be recognised in Punjab for six months, adding that the Punjab government would also construct truck stands and driver rest areas in major cities.
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Infrastructure-related measures were also agreed upon. These include the temporary allocation of 50 acres for truck parking on Mai Kolachi Road under the Karachi Port Trust, and the acquisition of around 600 acres along the Northern Bypass (M-10) for permanent parking facilities. The construction of a six-kilometre stretch of the Northern Bypass is planned by April 2026, while the National Highway Authority intends to expand the route to six lanes.
To further facilitate port traffic, the National Highway Authority plans to expand the route to six lanes.https://t.co/qyK7txPV3W
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 18, 2025
The agreement also calls for action against container theft, with the Sindh police directed to investigate complaints and take strict action against criminal groups.
Industrialists welcomed the end of the strike, noting that it had caused significant losses. Industry estimates suggested the textile sector alone suffered losses of around $500 million, while delays at ports led to demurrage charges, production slowdowns and the risk of cancelled export orders.
The strike, which began on December 8 in Punjab, had been triggered by transporters’ opposition to sharply increased fines and penalties introduced under the amended traffic ordinance.
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