Heated arguments, scuffles between passengers and urban transport owners continued throughout the day as conductors overcharged people without any notification of fare increase in Multan city. Police and wardens played a role of silent spectators. Transport owners charged Rs 15 per stop in violation of the Rs 10 per stop notified by the Transport Department.
Transport owners went an extra mile by printing tickets of their choice. Transport owners were taken into confidence by the department and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif who had assured them that the government would keep the per stop fare 'realistic'. The government, however, did not sanction any increase in fares, the complained.
Urban transport owners after waiting for around four months unanimously decided to take matters into their own hands. Similarly transporters of inter-city routes also increased their fare by 20 percent. Meanwhile, inflation-hit people have rejected the hike in fares. People across the City have angrily reacted to the fare hike.
They said public transport was their only means of transport and it was no longer affordable. "We are already fighting for survival! I don't care about anything. All I know I just can't pay this much," said an infuriated man as he argued with a bus conductor.
"Everyone can look at the condition of these busses! These people don't spend a penny on improving their service yet they increase fares whenever they get a chance," complained another person. "We are living in the most lawless times ever! There could hardy be such an open violation of the writ of the government, yet there is practically no effort to stop this hooliganism," said a student.
Office bearers of the Association of Urban Transport Owners and Urban Transport Owners Union said that they have had enough. They said the government had done nothing but make hollow promises. They said they had to act as their survival was now at stake. They said the government had promised an increase in proportional to fuel prices yet the government had either gone back on its word or they planned to keep this issue pending. This delay was inflicting unbearable losses on urban transport owners and they had no choice but to increase fares, they said.
CNG bus owners, however, have announced that they will not increase fares and will abide by fares as sanctioned by the Department of Transport. CNG Bus owner's Union said, "We believe in obeying the law and will not take matters into our own hands as we consider that a criminal act".