Transporters increase fares in Rawalpindi

Official says transporters will face the music over hike

RAWALPINDI:

Following the hike in fuel prices by up to Rs30 per litre, local transporters in Rawalpindi have unilaterally increased the fare by up to Rs5 despite the fact that the district administration has not notified any increase.

Transporters including mini-buses, wagons and Suzuki pick-ups have jacked up the fare from one stop to the other Rs5 without waiting for the official nod. All transporters have increased stop-to-stop fares from Rs20 to Rs25. As a result, fights were reported to have taken place between transporters and commuters.

On the other, the private ride Bikea has increased the fare by up to Rs30 per ride. Taxi cabs and rickshaws have also jacked up the fare arbitrarily, charging Rs180 instead of Rs100 for within city travel.

Intra-city transporters also resorted to hiking fares on longer routes unilaterally.

Fares have also been raised dramatically from Rawalpindi to Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, and surrounding areas, resulting in verbal scuffles between passengers and transporters.

Wagon fares between Pirwadhai Rawalpindi and Lahore had been raised from Rs800 to Rs1,050 while the fare for an air-conditioned coaster has been increased from Rs1,600 to Rs1,850. All route fares have been arbitrarily hiked from 40 to 60 per cent by the intercity transporters.

According to transporter Asif Khan, the fare was officially hiked in 2018 and since then, the prices of petroleum products skyrocketed 20 times but they did not increase the fare. He said that there has also been a massive increase price of spare parts including tyres and tubes and transporters could not afford to run the business afloat without the increase in fares.

Transporter leader Raja Riaz announced a nationwide wheel jam strike if fares were not increased immediately. The increase in fares should be announced at the earliest, he said

On the other hand, a sudden increase of Rs30 per litre in the price of petroleum products has made holes in the pockets of the common man while petrol pump owners reaped millions of rupees in profit. Pakistan Railways has also decided to increase fares due to an increase in prices of petroleum products.

On the other hand, pick-and-drop services for students have also increased fares, sparking panic among parents.

According to the regional transport authority secretary, the government has not notified new fares and anyone who increases fares will face the consequences. He said that penalties will be slapped and vehicles will be challaned. He said that a request has been sent to the Punjab government to increase fares and until the approval, no one can raise the fare unilaterally. “We will issue a notification if the government increases it. We will begin monitoring transporters on Saturday and take action against violators,” he claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2022.