DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Goods Transporters Association has been on a wheel-jam strike in Sakhi Sarwar for the last four days against the axle load management policy, which restricts them to carry a fixed load.

Owing to the strike, businesses, including the stone crusher industry, have closed, rendering thousands of workers unemployed. The supply of stone, gravel, and sand has been suspended throughout south Punjab, causing development projects to be put on hold. The association vows to continue with their protest against the patrolling police until their demands are met.

The shrine city - Sakhi Sarwar’s economy is driven by the supply vehicles of the goods transport stone crusher industry. All transport trucks in Sakhi Sarwar have been stopped by the police in the name of axle load management. From Sakhi Sarwar to Multan, the transport industry has gone on a complete wheel-jam strike against the alleged exploitation by the patrolling police under the guise of axle load management. Business activities in Sakhi Sarwar have been suspended for four days. Owners of the transport goods and the stone crusher industry have set up a protest camp, continuing their demonstration against the patrolling police. No district administration officer has engaged in negotiations with the protesters.

The suspension of stone, gravel, and sand supply has affected the entire south Punjab, bringing development projects to a standstill. Demonstrators are chanting slogans against the patrolling police. Transport owners claim they are being harassed by the patrolling police, with their vehicles stopped daily under the pretext of overloading and heavy fines imposed.

They have urged the Punjab chief secretary to increase the load limit from 300 to 1,000kg as Sakhi Sarwar’s livelihood and employment are closely tied to goods transport vehicles.

In Sargodha, they said vehicles carry 1,000kg, but Sakhi Sarwar’s transporters are being asked to adhere to a 300 kg policy. Due to the load management policy, transporters are losing millions of rupees daily.

They have demanded that the Punjab government revise the axle load management policy, increasing the limit from 300 to 1,000kg, similar to Sargodha. The demonstrations would continue until the demands are met, and there would be no supply of stone, gravel, or sand for development projects in south Punjab.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024