Tourists bemoan exorbitant transport fares

Exploring the federal capital comes at a steep price and tourists who have to hire private vehicles to navigate the city’s attractions complain about the lack of direct public transport.

Tourists have to cough up exorbitant fares to visit any of Islamabad’s popular spots and those who have larger families face considerable financial strain just for an outing in the city. For instance, a transport fare survey conducted by The Express Tribune showed that if a family from Islamabad’s twin, Rawalpindi, wants to go to Shahdara, Daman-e-Koh, or Pir Sohawa a taxi or minivan journey will cost between Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000.

“Touring Islamabad is only for the rich,” lamented Sardar Muzaffar, “after paying the high fare, one can no longer feed their children.” Muzaffar, who was visiting the city with his family, added that even apart from the pricey food, his children were irritated as they could not take the joy rides because of their expensive tickets.

Two year back, in August of 2020, to address the concerns of tourists like Muzaffar, the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) started a double-decker tourist bus service from Allama Iqbal Park, in the Shamsabad area of Rawalpindi, to several of Islamabad’s attractions in order to promote tourism. The double-decker bus, which goes to Lok Virsa, Shakarparian, Lake View, Marghazar Zoo, Daman-e-Koh, and Shah Faisal Mosque, costs Rs 400 to board. However, tourists are not content with the services the bus has to offer.

Asghar Hussain, a tourist who had just got off the bus, while talking to The Express Tribune said that he had bought tickets for Rs 3,000 for his family but did not enjoy the tour. “The bus only stops for 30 minutes at all the attractions which is barely enough so one can only see these recreational places from afar,” Hussain complained.

Nazer Akhtar, had similar complaints against the bus service as in a haste to get back on the bus his wife lost her wallet. “This trip was costly for us and I wish the bus had more lenient stoppage times so we could actually explore the city in peace,” he said.

Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority Rawalpindi, Arshad Ali, when inquired about there was no public transport to Islamabad’s tourist spots, informed that they were eager to award route permits for transport to recreational areas in Islamabad but no transporter was willing due to scarce passengers. “There are no tourists before 11 in the morning till late at night after sunset. In the rain this number becomes zero. If travelers are not available then transporters will make heavy losses,” Ali explained.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Hamza Shafqaat, was of the view that all facilities were being provided at tourist spots in Islamabad already. He said that double-decker bus service was running to nearly all entertainment venues in the city to facilitate tourists. ”Taxis and other vehicles are also easily available at tourist hotspots. There does not seem to be any problem as all recreational places in the city are always full of tourists,” Shafqaat told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2022.