Lahore begins to present deserted look

Provincial capital presented a deserted look as a very large number of people left Lahore on Monday night to enjoy the Eid holidays with their families and friends at their hometowns. Eid exodus, however, started on Saturday and completed on Monday night as the people, who do businesses or working class and belong to nearer cities of provincial metropolis like Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Narowal, Sialkot, Kasur, etc, left the City.
It is pertinent to mention here that more than three million people leave Lahore on every Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha for their hometowns to celebrate festivals with the families and friends. As a result, the provincial metropolis gradually experiences the taste of less people and less public vehicles plying the roads. Lahore will almost present deserted look on Tuesday. A large number of government officials who got a week-long vacation had left the City on Friday afternoon after attending their offices, but the biggest exodus was made on Saturday.
Those who left Lahore on last couple of days were included workers at industrial units, university students, those businessmen whom business is not related to Eid, owners of small hotels and restaurants and labourers. About one third residents left to their native town from colonies like Mugulpura DharimPura Model Town, Johar Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Gulsham Ravi, Township, Green Town, Faisal Town etc.
Saturday was the day when great rush was observed at city bus terminals and Lahore Railways Station. A conductor Tanveer Ahmad at New Khan Bus stand situated Multan Road said that rush had been increased to 70 per cent as compared to Sunday. However, the number of people with their families and luggage were seen at General Bus Stands, Niazi Bus Stands and at City Bus Terminal. Traffic was packed at city entrance and exit points on night. Passengers were also seen standing at Thoker Niaz Beg bypass, Shera Kot, Yadgar Chowk and Batti Chowk.
With the first phase of exodus which started on Friday evening many passengers felt that the transporters were exploiting them, not only in terms of overcharging but in terms of indirect fares. Azmat Ali a passenger standing at General Bus stand complained that the transporters were even charging full fair for the luggage.
However, the standard transport companies take the fare from the passengers as it has been mentioned at fare list. Some transporters say that they charge high from the passengers on Eid days, as buses come back to Lahore with almost 60 per cent empty. District Administration set up complaints offices at the General Bus stands to provide relief to the passengers. Traffic Police made special arrangement to ensure smooth flow of traffics.