The transporters of the twin cities have not reduced fare in the wake of substantial cut in the prices of petrol and diesel, depriving commuters of benefiting from this handsome decrease, revealed a survey conducted by this scribe on Monday. The transporters have increased fare with every increment made by the government in the oil prices.
But the transporters were charging the same fare from the twin cities commuters when the price of diesel has gone down to Rs 57 per liter from Rs 87 per liter. The government response seems lukewarm as no step was taken to ensure revision in the fare following decline in oil products prices in the country.
A passenger, who daily ply on Route No 1 said, it was unfair of the transporters to charge Rs 10 for stop to stop as the total fare from Rawalpindi to Islamabad was Rs 22. We have to pay Rs 10 for travelling even half a mile. The government, he said was required to rationalise the fare keeping in view the distance to be travelled by the passenger.
It is critical for the government to take urgent step to provide some relief to the people already under immense price-hike pressure, he added. Another passenger who daily ply on Route No 121 from Melody to Peshawar Moor said he pay Rs 13 instead of Rs 14-nominal decrease of only one rupee, which is in no way proportionate to the decrease in petrol and diesel prices.
Diesel is now being sold at Rs 57.24 per liter and petrol at Rs 57.76 per liter. Same is the case with the passengers who are plying on Route No 21. They pay Rs 16 from Melody to Khanna Bridge.
SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS: Skyrocketing prices of sacrificial animals might deprive large number faithfuls from 'Quarbani' on Eidul Azha in the twin cities. Animal breeders from all parts of Punjab and NWFP have approached Capital Development Authority (CDA) administration for allotment of plots in the area earmarked for Mandi in F-11 sector in the wake of fetching high prices.
This scribe took around of the Mandi and was astonished to note that the cost of a 40-kg sheep varies between Rs 20 to 25 thousand whereas the demand for a 160-kg bull ranges between Rs 35 to 40 thousand. A person who was looking for an animal as per his purchasing power said that mostly salaried class families live in the capital and the prices of animals this Eid are no where near the buying capacity of the person earning more than Rs 40 thousand a month.
Commuters of twin cities are yet to benefit from the three times downward revision in oil prices as transporters have not reduced the fare. When commuters of twin cities are awaiting some relief in public transport fares with the decrease in prices of petrol and diesel, whereas the sky-rocketing prices of sacrificial animals are also adding to the financial woes of common man, reveals a survey conducted by this scribe.
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