SOP violations: 80 vehicles seized

Traffic comes to a standstill as transporters protest outside RTA secretary’s office

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

As the third wave of the novel coronavirus grips the province, the Rawalpindi Regional Transport Authority (RTA) continued its ban on public transport services for a second day on Wednesday.

The district administration, on the special directives of Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anwarul Haq, has accelerated its ongoing campaign to check for violations of SOPs. According to a spokesperson, 216 raids were conducted in different areas of the district on Wednesday as the authorities took action against the violators.

He informed that the administration conducted 51 raids at public service vehicles (PSVs) at different routes while 80 vehicles were impounded besides imposing fines amounting to Rs96,000. He added that 42 public places and parks were also inspected and Rs3500 fines were imposed on the violators.

Similarly, officers visited 100 shopping malls, markets and plazas as 12 of them were sealed on breach of SOPs and fines amounting to Rs81,000 were imposed. Moreover, 23 marriage halls and 59 restaurants were also inspected while one hall and eight restaurants were sealed besides imposing fines amounting to Rs88,000 on the violators.

The DC urged the citizens to follow the SOPs and adopt all possible precautionary measures against coronavirus. The district administration, including assistant commissioners, magistrates and other officers, have accelerated their raids against the violators, he added.

According to a spokesperson, the provincial government has imposed strict restrictions on public transport and business activities to curb the spread of contagion. To implement this, various teams led by Rawalpindi RTA Secretary Rashid Ali cracked down on public transport vehicles on Wednesday.

On the other hand, a large number of transporters gathered outside the RTA secretary’s office near Kutchehri Chowk, blocking the highway by throwing stones onto the road. A large contingent of police led by Cantt DSP Ijaz Shah and Civil Lines SHO Ahsan Kiyani reached the spot while the RTA secretary held talks with the protesting transporters.

After this, the impounded vehicles were released with a warning. Ali said that the ban on public transport on urban route for passenger vehicles of any kind was imposed by the Punjab government.

He advised that people should follow all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) and leave their homes only if necessary, adding that the crackdown will continue.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2021.