Following the highest-ever increase in the fuel prices, Islamabad Transport Association on Monday increased their minimum and maximum fares and not only this they are flexing their muscles for further increase putting the masses under more economic pressure.
The local transporters demanded of the government either to withdraw its decision to increase the petroleum prices or allow them increase in fares according to the per litre increase in the diesel price.
They contended that the fuel prices in the international market have dropped significantly, whereas there is no respite from the government, which is continuously increasing fuel prices.
On the demand of the Islamabad transporters, the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) on Monday issued notification to increase the minimum and maximum fares from Rs 8 to Rs 10 and from Rs 17 to Rs 20, respectively, which the Punjab government had already approved and is in effect from July 1 in Rawalpindi.
Islamabad Transport Association President Haji Malik Nawab Khan said that the transporters would be compelled to increase more in the minimum and maximum fares from August 1 as their business is already in serious crisis due to the frequent increase in the fuel prices.
When approached, ITA Secretary Bashir Ahmed Khan for his comments, he said that the Islamabad administration is bound to follow the decision of the Punjab government to increase the fares as the provincial government had already notified this increase from July 1 and transporters of Islamabad were allowed from Monday.
He, however, said the next possible increase is depend on the provincial government whether it accepts the demand of the transporters or not. On the other hand, the Rawalpindi Transporters Association has again demanded of the provincial government to increase the minimum and maximum fare rate following the highest-ever increase in the fuel prices.
It is point to be noted that any other increase in the fares of local transport would be twice within three weeks as the Punjab government had allowed them to raise the fares from July 1 of vans, which are lined from Rawalpindi to Islamabad.
Meanwhile, local commuters are highly upset after the increase in the petroleum prices followed by raise in local transport fares. FOOD ITEMS: With an increase in the transportation charges, the prices of the food commodities are also increasing with each passing day.
The prices of sugar have increased twice a week from Rs 28 per kg to Rs 33 per kg. The same is the case with rice that is being exported, but even after fixing the minimum export prices of rice by the government; its price has become sky-rocketing.
The price of rice of premium quality have been increased from Rs 80 to Rs 130 per kg during the last two weeks while the price of low-quality rice has also been increased from Rs 75 to Rs 90 kg in the domestic market. Pulses are no exception to it as their prices have been increased to approximately 3 percent as compared to the last two weeks. Masoor pulse that was being sold at Rs 85 per kg, is now available in the market at Rs 110 per kg. The same is the case with gram pulse that is now being sold at Rs 58 per kg indicating an increase from Rs 38 per kg.