The Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawja Muhammad Sharif here Tuesday directed Secretary Transport to resolve issue of unauthorised increase in fares by urban transport services within one week time and adjourned the hearing of a suo motu proceedings to January 19.
Earlier, the secretary assured the court that all the stakeholders would be given equal opportunity of hearing before deciding the matter. Chief Justice observed that nobody talked about welfare of public and the bureaucracy was protecting the interests of transporters too. Profit of transporters should be fewer but they were drawing a lion share due to apathy of authorities, he remarked.
CJ further said the government should take note of problems faced by passengers due to unchecked increased in fares. He gave these remarks while heading a special division bench hearing a suo motu case against unauthorised increase in transport fares. According to details, transporters had increased the minimum one-stop bus and wagon fare from Rs 10 to Rs 15 and the maximum fare from Rs 30 to Rs 35 without any official notification.