Annual route permits to cost 40-400% more

Punjab cabinet instructs transport department to issue notification of new fees

LAHORE:

Punjab cabinet has approved between 40 to 400 percent increase in the annual route permit fees for public and commercial transport vehicles, resulting in backlash from the concerned quarters about the affordability issue.

In a recent meeting, the cabinet directed the Punjab Transport Department to issue a notification regarding the new fee structure to the relevant officials.

The ministers conceded to the proposal of raising the annual fee for route permit of A class public transport from Rs950 to Rs1,400 and that of B class transport from Rs700 to Rs1,100. The amplified figures demonstrate an increase of 47% and 57% respectively.

Furthermore, the route permit fee of M Class public transport was also jacked up to Rs2,000 and that of taxi to Rs850 per annum.

Similarly, the route permit fee of goods transport witnessed an increase from Rs400 to Rs2,000 per annum which is a whopping 400% increase.

According to the Punjab government, the entire route permit system is also being computerized after which action will be taken against vehicles operating without route permits.

The Department of Transport has also formed a committee to issue payment certificates to vehicles as well as pay a Swedish company for performing vehicle checking.

In this regard the Swedish company has made three out of its 27 centres functional in the province.

After the lifting of coronavirus related restrictions, commercial vehicles will be able to obtain route permits and receive state-of-the-art facilities from the transport department.

Meanwhile, citizens are complaining about the soaring costs of living disabling them from living through the pandemic with ease.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, a transporter demanded that the government go easy on them in these troubled times.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2021.