ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) has expressed deep concern over the escalating transporters’ protest, warning that the prolonged and impending strikes are having a crippling impact on industrial production, supply chains, and overall economic stability. The current wave of protests by transporters began in response to the enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025 on December 08, 2025, under which traffic authorities imposed sharply increased fines, strict penalties, vehicle impoundments, and FIRs against drivers and transport operators. Transport unions argue that the ordinance has been implemented without adequate consultation and has made routine transport operations financially unviable, particularly for small operators and drivers. While limited negotiations temporarily eased tensions in some areas of Punjab on December 13, major transport bodies including the All Pakistan Transport Federation and allied goods transport associations have now announced a nationwide wheel-jam strike on December 19 after expressing dissatisfaction with government assurances. Transport leaders have warned that unless controversial clauses of the ordinance are withdrawn or substantially revised, goods and passenger transport across the country will remain suspended. PALSP cautions that the industrial fallout of the strike is already severe and is likely to worsen if the December 19 protest goes ahead. “Factories dependent on uninterrupted logistics are facing acute shortages of raw materials, fuel, and packaging supplies, while finished goods are piling up due to the inability to transport them to markets and ports. Several manufacturing units have already shut down production lines, and others are operating at minimal capacity, PALSP noted. It said export-oriented industries are particularly vulnerable, with delays at ports, stranded containers, rising demurrage costs, and growing risks of missed deadlines and order cancellations. Prolonged disruption could result in layoffs, wage losses for workers, and long-term damage to Pakistan’s industrial credibility and investor confidence. PALSP urged the federal and provincial governments to immediately engage in meaningful dialogue with transport unions, review the contentious provisions of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025, and adopt a balanced approach that ensures road safety without paralyzing industry and production. Failure to resolve the crisis urgently will deepen economic losses and place an unfair burden on industrial workers, businesses, and consumers nationwide, PALSP warned. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025