A partial strike called by transport alliances has forced nearly 40% of public buses off the roads. Daily workers and students are left struggling to find rides at crowded bus stops.
Citizens across Karachi faced severe difficulties reaching their workplaces and colleges today. It was due to a sudden shortage of local transport. According to the Karachi Transport Alliance, bus owners called on the strike to protest the modern digital e-challan system, heavy traffic fines, and the non-payment of promised government subsidies. The strike severely reduced the number of large minibuses and traditional coaches on all major routes.
Frustrated citizens were seen waiting for hours at various city stops, including Sohrab Goth, Saddar, and MA Jinnah Road. Many commuters complained that the city already has a massive shortage of decent public transport. This latest strike has completely cut off their regular travel options. People have strongly urged the Sindh government to intervene immediately and resolve the underlying issues with the transporters.
Ride Hailing Apps and Mega Projects Save the Day
While traditional buses remained missing, other modes of travel helped citizens manage their daily commute. Transport monitoring teams confirmed that several alternative services operated completely normally throughout the city:
- The Green Line and Orange Line bus rapid transit systems kept running without any delays.
- Traditional autorickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws, and yellow taxis continued picking up passengers on regular roads.
- Online ride hailing apps and bike-sharing services remain fully operational to handle the extra passenger load.
Drivers Raise Concerns Over Heavy Fines
Spokespersons from the Karachi Bus Owners Association stated that traffic enforcement officers have been using modern digital gadgets to issue heavy financial penalties too aggressively.
Drivers claimed that these high fines, combined with delays in receiving official financial subsidies, have made running large vehicles completely unaffordable.
Transporters warned that they will keep their vehicles parked until high level officials hold successful talks to address their financial concerns.
