Transport bodies from Punjab, Sindh agree on joint course

Business Recorder reported that goods transport associations from Punjab and Sindh have agreed to a joint plan and called off a planned strike. The delegation met Additional IG Operations Asim Gulzar, senior traffic officers and PHP officers at the Punjab IG office in Lahore on Wednesday. Traffic law enforcement and road safety featured in the talks, and senior officers praised the decision to defer the strike call.

Representatives presented their charter of demands and the problems faced by transporters, and both sides agreed to build a shared plan through mutual understanding. Additional IG Asim Gulzar said the police force is taking tangible steps to address the genuine grievances of transporters. Under directions from IG Punjab Abdul Kareem, committees are being formed, and joint awareness sessions will teach drivers about road safety, carrying capacity needs and traffic rules.

DIG Traffic Waqas Nazir said action will follow against those misusing FIRs, unnecessary challans and fines to exploit transporters, and a scheme to make HTV licences easier to obtain for heavy transport drivers will launch shortly. DIG PHP Faisal Ali Raja pointed to dumper drivers on highways, citing overtaking, overloading, overspeeding and improper parking as main reasons for crashes. A meeting with the provincial transport minister and secretary was also announced to address matters tied to excise, customs and other offices. The One App will also be extended from major cities to smaller ones.