Karachi transporters announce indefinite strike

The Karachi Transport Alliance (KTA) has announced an indefinite strike across the city after negotiations with authorities failed to resolve key disputes, including what transporters describe as excessive e-challan penalties. Following a joint meeting, KTA President Tawab Khan said transport operators had been pushed to the wall by what he termed the government’s “rigid attitude. ” “We repeatedly approached the relevant authorities, but received nothing beyond assurances, ” he told a press conference. Khan said reducing e-challan penalties remained the alliance’s primary demand. He also criticised the continued imposition of heavy manual fines, claiming that some parked vehicles had been issued penalties of up to Rs100, 000. The alliance further alleged that the government had failed to honour promises of subsidies that were offered on the condition that transport fares would not be increased. Transport leaders warned that public transport services would remain suspended until their demands were accepted, adding that the strike would continue for an indefinite period. The announcement raises concerns about significant disruption to commuting across Karachi, where thousands of residents rely on public transport for daily travel.

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