Transporters are charging extra fare from the commuters at Pirwadhai after the recent raise in petroleum products' prices. A large number of commuters daily travel from Pirwadhai which is the main bus stop and from where vehicles ply to different parts of the country.
Akhtar Khan, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan, a government servant complained that the transporters have raised the fare of D I Khan from Rs 260 to 300 after recent increase in the petroleum prices. He said this surge in transport fares is an additional burden on the travellers' pocket, but concerned officials are not paying heed.
Another commuter Umar Afzal said, "I paid Rs 350 when I was going for Eidul Azha but on return, the transporters charged Rs 400 from Tank to Islamabad." He said the travelling fare has already been increased by 10 percent by the transporters, terming it unjustified.
Though the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) says the decision was taken because of the hike in oil prices at international market but no raise in transport fare has been announced officially, providing an opportunity to transporters to raise the fares on their own.