Stranded passengers in Punjab finally get going

Many say they have to pay twice the amount for a single seat

LAHORE: Intercity bus stands witnessed acute shortages of transport, while bus operators took full advantage of the situation and took extra fare from passengers.

The transporters claimed they had suffered irreparable losses due to the three-day strike and were charging “just a few extra pennies” to compensate for the damage.

In the city, the major bus stands include Bund Road, Larri Adda, Badami Bagh and Jinnah Bus terminal. These cater to passengers from Kakur, Sharqpur, Patuki, Raiwind and Kala Shah Kaku, Murdikay, Kot Abdul Malik, Begum Kot, Kana Kacha, Lalyani, Phool Nagar, Bhai Peeru, Iqbal Nagar and Okara.



The residents of these areas mostly travelled within the intercity bus stands on vehicles including small buses and coasters. For local commuters, life had been at a standstill since Saturday as they were unable to reach their hometowns over the weekend.

During the three days, most took shelter at the residences of their relatives in Lahore and were now trying to reach their native villages, towns or cities.

“Every day in the morning, I travel on the intercity bus service to reach my home in Kasur,” comments Sheikh Saqib, a waiter at a local restaurant. “Now I have been living at my place of work since Saturday.”

He added that protestors, though small in number, blocked all major points of the city and no one can enter or exit.

“Now, the streets are open to all, but what can I do if there is no transport service available?” he asked. “I am giving them double the amount for a single seat,” he said in reply to a question.

During the day of protest around the city, all restaurants and roadside eateries were closed and thousands of homeless people established makeshift arrangements at hospital parking lots and other public spots. At the same time, all means of public transport were also suspended till Monday evening.



Earlier, Daewoo Pakistan Spokesperson Naeemullah said the company had suspended all its intercity bus operations across Pakistan for passengers’ safety. On Saturday, he disclosed that the company was operating normally, but a few of its buses were stuck in protests on Grand Trunk Road so the company had to recall them back to Lahore.

He underscored that passengers’ safety was the first priority of the company besides the security of crew members and the vehicles. “Bus operations will be resumed once the situation normalises in the country, he said.

Pakistan Railways, Punjab Masstransit Authority, Lahore Transport Company and other private intercity and intracity operators had completely shut their operations for passengers’ safety.

Pakistan Railways had also closed down all its operation out of Lahore to  Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Narowal. Not a single train was operational during this time, thus leaving thousands of people in an uncertain situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2017.