No-go : Private vans struggle amid school closure

When the government first suspended in-person attendance at most educational institutes, during the coronavirus lockdown, private transporters offering pick and drop services at schools and colleges had little idea about how things would fare. Some expected business to resume in a few weeks’ time. Others gave it at least a couple of months before classes could recommence. However, now entering the fifth month of school closure, the unanticipated break has left transporters operating in the twin cities on their beam ends.

According to private transporters in Rawalpindi, they have had next to no business in the last three months, forcing many to look towards other means of income to make ends meet. “We have children too and we need to pay their school fee, just as any other parent. But since schools, colleges and universities have gone online, while inflation has skyrocketed during the lockdown, it’s been no less than a challenge to meet these expenses,” lamented Zahid, a transporter who caters to students in the garrison city.

A majority of pick and drop service providers operating between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, rely on petrol, with no CNG kits installed in their vehicles. A single vehicle can accommodate between 4-5 passengers, which are usually comprised of school, college and university students. “This used to be a lucrative business once. Fares for Rawalpindi to Islamabad were the highest, we would charge each student between Rs4,000 to Rs8,000 per month and run multiple shifts to accommodate different timings between different institutions,” said Zeeshan, a transport provider. “However, the last few months have been extremely difficult. Although the price of petrol went down, but that happened when coronavirus cases were at their highest and all educational institutes had to be shut down as a result,” he added.

Petition against cut in school fees dismissed

Although there is no cumulative data available for the number of children affected by Covid-19 in Pakistan, according to a local newspaper report, some 2,000 children aged 1-16 had tested positive for the virus in Islamabad Capital Territory, during the month of April. Four months later, while the government mulls over reopening schools nation-wide from September 15, medical experts believe that foolproof preventative measures including virus testing and strict SOPs need to be put in place before a decision can be made. Thus, considering the various practical and financial implications of imposing such measures across the board, authorities concerned have yet not been able to provide a concrete solution to the reopening of schools.

On the other hand, private transporters have started looking elsewhere for alternative means of income during the seemingly indefinite closure of educational institutes. “In the absence of business and no aid from the government, I had to do something to feed my family. I have started supplying vegetables from greenmarkets to shops in the city. It is the only other use I could find for my vehicle,” shared Zahid.

Speaking on the matter, a regional transport authority officer said that government looking towards practical solutions for the transport industry. “We are aware that certain unregistered vehicles have been operating as private pick and drop services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. We plan to register these vehicles and bring them under the tax net. However, considering the safety hazards, we cannot allow these vehicles to install CNG kits. There is a strict ban on that, since CNG kits have resulted in numerous accidents in the past,” he informed The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2020.