Drivers of taxis continue fleecing commuters on the pretext of one or another reason in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Even if a person wish to travel for only a kilometre or so, a taxi drivers would ask him something between Rs 50 and Rs 60.
Complaining about the high-handedness of taxi drivers, a commuter Aamir said though the distance between his residence and office at the Karachi Company, was hardly four kilometres, fare were charged between Rs 60 and Rs 70. Despite the poor state of their vehicles, the taxi drivers keep on increasing the fare everyday.
People who travel regularly by taxis told newsmen that the fares for even short distances had been considerably increased by the taxis drivers. "I used to pay Rs 50 one-way for commuting from G-9/4 to Zero Point about a month ago but now that fare stands at Rs 70," said Aslam Khan. Similarly, a ride from Sector F-10 to Sector G-8 could cost the commuter as much as Rs 100 to Rs 120.
With no fare regulation for taxis in the capital, taxi drivers demand money they wish for. Mohsin Khan a drives said he had been driving for the last 10 years and all his customers were happy. Taxi drivers in the federal capital refuted commuters' claims that they overcharge.
Islamabad Traffic Police also claims to be strict on laws and rules and redressal of complaints. "We deal all complaints against violators. We not only focus on enforcement but also on education," said a Traffic Police official. "We have brought improvement, though much could be needed to be done yet," he said.