People leave for their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their loved ones. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS
Several passengers faced difficulty in booking tickets for their native towns due to the constant rush. Sajjad Hussain, an accountant who worked at a private firm in Lahore, said he had been looking for a ticket for three hours and visited different bus terminals on Bund Road, but all in vain.
He complained that transporters were exploiting passengers by selling tickets at rates which were Rs100 to Rs250 higher.
Small transport operators of minivans or APVs started demanding double the standard fare from passengers, he said. “In addition, several transport operators have started charging extra for luggage.”
A resident of Jauharabad, Tahir Khalil, said he successfully managed to get a ticket for his hometown at a 50% higher rate. Most clerks were charging extra on the pretext for “Eidi” due to government negligence, he said.
Saeed Anwar, a passenger going to Rawalpindi, said, “Most ticket clerks and staff members of private transport operators have purchased several tickets under fictitious names and are now selling to commuters at inflated rates.” He asked transport authorities and management companies to take strict action against the people involved in this unethical and illegal practice.
Similarly, a huge crowd of passengers had gathered at the Lahore Railway Station with many standing on platforms, waiting for their trains.
Passengers with advanced bookings and confirmed tickets seemed satisfied, while others faced great difficulty.
A passenger, Muhammad Latif, pointed out that Pakistan Railways had announced discounted fares for Eidul Fitr, but were offering subsidised fares during the Eid holidays only. “It seems that Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique made a fool of us as most passengers would have left the city before Eid,” he said.
Lahore Mayor Colonel (Retd) Mubashir Javed, who visited the lorry stand to check public transport fares, said the district government was continuously monitoring bus terminals across the city. He added transporters involved in overcharging passengers were heavily fined.
Lahore District Commissioner Sumair Ahmad Syed said a fine of over Rs50,000 would be imposed on public transporters involved in overcharging passengers. Though these vehicles could be impounded under the law, authorities will not take such strict action to avoid the shortage of vehicles, he said.
An official of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) said the department had cancelled the holidays of field staff during Eid. “The department was trying to rein in overcharging and it would only be possible through public cooperation,” he said. “Passengers should reveal the registration numbers of bus or wagons involved in overcharging so that appropriate action could be taken to stop the activity, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2017.
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