Following the caretaker government's decision to increase the petroleum prices on Tuesday, the transporters community has increased fares by 10 percent on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. This time monthly increase in oil prices has been made at a time when Eid-ul-Fitr is approaching fast. This has provided an opportunity to transporters to fleece the masses with "impunity."
President Transport Union Sultan Khan told Business Recorder that transporters have increased the prices of inter-city fares by 10 percent. Faisal Movers Transporters increased the Islamabad-Lahore fare by Rs 100, he added.
The transport authorities concerned are less bothered about maintaining the official fare list.
Most of the people working privately in the federal capital are leaving for their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their family members. The transporters have no official fare list in their vehicles. However, the passengers do not have any alternative and are compelled to accept the rates fixed by the transporters.
The passengers are of the opinion that traffic police and authorities concerned are informed in this regard time and again but to no avail. They are being exploited by the transporters.
Last week, Pakistan Railways reduced fares by 30 percent to facilitate passengers but still most of the people prefer travelling by road. The passengers alleged that the traffic police take bribes from transporters. They also expressed concern over the misbehavior of transporters against whom no action has been taken.
The transport department has neither devised any plan nor issued any emergency numbers or directives regarding transporters in this regard.
Owing to insufficient staff and few resources, the situation is not under its complete control so the passengers face hardships.
Majid Chaudhry, a passenger who was leaving for his hometown Lahore, said that the transporters misbehaved with him. "If we do not pay them high fares, they tell us to use your own vehicles," he fumed. Similarly, he maintained that the routine fare for Lahore was Rs 800 but now the transporters taking advantage of the passengers' helplessness are charging Rs 1000.
The masses have to pay high fares as they have no alternative for reaching their hometowns before Eid. The passengers are also forced to use overloaded coaches that can also prove a danger to their lives.
Gul Muhammad, a bus driver at Karachi Company Bus Stop, while talking to this scribe said owing to passengers' high rush, they have raised the fare. The increase in fare is also due to increase in their expenditures, he said.
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