Intra-city transporters increase fare

After the recent increase in petroleum prices the intra-city transporters throughout the country have increased fares from 5 to 10 percent without permission of the authorities concerned. While the local transporters of the twin cities are urging the government to allow them to set minimum fare from Rs 10 to Rs 15.
Intra-city transporters are now charging additional fare of about Rs 20 to Rs 50 per person, depending on the condition of their service. It is pertinent to note that in 2008, when per litre petrol price reached over Rs 80 transporters did not increase fares as high as they have done now.
Transport companies like Skyways, Niazi Express and Daewoo Express are charging Rs 20, Rs 30 and Rs 50 respectively more for the route from Islamabad to Lahore without the permission of the authorities concerned. Arif Hussain a passenger going to Lahore said, "If a person buys a ticket from the bus-stand of any of these bus services (except Daewoo Express) they charge the passenger as per official fare, ie, 450 for Skyways and 470 for Niazi Express (new fares).
But after departing from their stands these service providers stop at Motorway Mor and let more passengers get on the buses and the service providers charge those passengers less fare ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 470." This correspondent asked the bus driver/conductor about the difference of fare then the conductor informed, "We cannot ply empty buses and once we observe we cannot get more passengers at the official rate, then we accommodate passengers at a lower fare."
On the other hand Rawalpindi-Islamabad Transporters' Association President, Malik Muhammad Sultan talking to Business Recorder said that they are in contact with transporters throughout the country to launch a countrywide wheel-jam strike against the Rs 4.37 per litre increase in petrol price. He added that the government should increase fare of local transport from one bus stop to another stop from Rs 10 to 15.
"The government should take back the notification of price increase or raise fares of local transport. The government should increase the stop-by-stop fare to Rs 15 from Rs 10 and Rs 30 from one end to the other. If it is not done, transporters throughout the country, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, would go on wheel-jam strike in next week," he warned.
When contacted, District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Asif said that local transporters are already charging high fares on every route. Secondly, the Punjab government has the authority to increase local transport fares throughout the province. "Transporters cannot increase fares for any route on their own," he added.
Commenting on the issue, Sadia Bukhari, a student, said that the increase in transport fares would put an extra burden on her parents. "The government should realise people's problems. It should start public transport service in the best interest of the public, particularly for students and office workers". Muhammad Ibrar, working as manager at an intra-bus terminal, said that they are not bound with notifications. "We increase fares as per increase in petrol price," he stated.