The transporters have demanded a revision of fares to cover their costs owing to the recent hike in petroleum prices. The federal government increased fuel prices by up to Rs5.92 on September 15.
The recent hike in the rate of fuel prices has worried transporters besides the public and they have called for a revision of fares.
Muttahida Transport Federation (MTF) leader Raja Riyaz told The Express Tribune that the increase by Rs5 in fuel prices will unleash a new spiral of inflation. He said that the transporters had no option but to increase fares while the rates of spare parts of their vehicles will also go up.
The transporter pointed out it is the authorities’ policy that the fares must be revised if the fuel rates are changed by Rs5. He added that the policy was not followed, and the revision was done only once a long time ago.
Read Petrol, diesel prices jacked up by Rs5
As a result, Riyaz said, the public transport charges Rs15 from one stop to another while the state-run metro bus charges Rs30, whereas the subsidy is also given to the metro bus than private transport operators.
He said the petrol price was Rs80 per litre when the authorities set Rs15 as the standard fare, but today the price of fuel has shot up to Rs123 per litre. He demanded that the minimum stop-to-stop charges should be Rs25. He asked the government to increase fares or they will do it themselves.
Riyaz said a meeting of the transporters’ body has been summoned next week to plan their future action.
Meanwhile, several transporters have started charging one to two rupees extra from passengers after the increase in petroleum prices. A few passengers complained that they were forced to pay Rs17 from one stop to another instead of Rs15.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2021.
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