School van drivers have warned that they may go on a complete strike due to heavy fines imposed by the government, a move that could suspend school transport services across Lahore.
Transporters say the new restrictions have made it nearly impossible to continue operating school vans, particularly those carrying children, which could create serious difficulties for parents.
According to the transporters, the new policy is unjust, as authorities are issuing challans for carrying more than six children in a van. However, drivers argue that reducing the number of children would require them to double the fare, placing an additional financial burden on parents.
They say the policy is unfair to working families, as both transporters and parents are struggling under financial pressure.
Previously, fines ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Now, the penalty for a single violation has surged to Rs 15,000–20,000, making it difficult for vans to operate on a daily basis.
In response to the situation, the transporters’ union has announced a “wheel-jam” strike. This means that if the authorities do not address the issue, school van services will be completely shut down.
Transporters have urged parents to support their protest, stressing that their demonstration is against the unfair policies, not against parents.
If the strike goes ahead, thousands of students may lose access to school transportation, forcing parents to arrange costly private commuting options.
Experts warn that a sudden suspension of van services could also affect school attendance, while working parents may face significant hardship.
Meanwhile, transporters maintain that they cannot continue operations under the current fare structure while facing such heavy fines.
