The transporters plying CNG-fitted vans on long routes in NWFP are exploiting commuters in the name of the gas load management in the country. More than 70 percent Hiace vans plying on long routes particularly those carrying service on Peshawar-Swat, Peshawar-Timergara, Peshawar-Batkhela, Peshawar-Mardan and Peshawar-Dargai are charging high fares than that fixed by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and transporters.
Despite consuming CNG, the transporters are fixing their fares on the basis of adjustment in the price of petroleum products. On every morning after adjustment in the prices of petroleum products transporters resort to hurl the threat strike or wheel-jam and every time the official machinery succumbed to the pressure tactics of transport mafia in the province.
According to sources in transport sector and general public particularly commuters, the transport fairs in NWFP is many fold high than other parts of the country. The better proof is that an Islamabad bound Hiace charge a fare of Rs 170 for a distance of 170-kilometer on the Motorway, but on the other than the same transport charge the same amount for a distance of 120-kilometer in NWFP. Moreover, the vehicles plying on long routes in NWFP despite charging higher fares also involved in overloading.
The price of one litre diesel is Rs 69.25 while the price of one kilogram CNG is Rs 55.33. In one litre a vehicle can travel a distance of 5-6 kilometer while in one-kilogram the CNG fitted vehicles ran for 18-19 kilometers.
Despite of the huge disparity in the benefits of the transporters who had fitted CNG in their vehicles and earning handsome profits, the benefit of the low-price energy had never passed-on to the commuters. In light of the huge disparity in the prices of CNG and diesel, the commuters are demanding different fare rate for the commercial transport vehicles in the province.
The Hiace Vans import into Pakistan with diesel fitted engines. The transporters used to replace it with petrol consuming engine and then install CNG kits to convert it into a CNG ran vehicle. But, interestingly, the Regional Transport Authority lack policy of fair rate for the CNG fitted vehicles. The maltreatment was exposed due to the load management of natural gas and strike of the CNG association against the issue.
In this connection, this scribe also contacted a senior official of the newly created Department of Transport, who said that the matter would be raised in next meeting of the department. He said that the government would ultimately make a law to pass on the benefit of the low cost fuel to the people.
On contacting the Department of Excise and Taxation, where an official who identified himself Waheed said that the conversion of vehicles require no permission and therefore, they have no record of the number CNG fitted vehicles in the province. He however called for different fare rate for the commercial transport vehicle consuming diesel and CNG for bringing end to the prevailing higher transport fairs in the province.
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