Commuters pay the price for POL price hike

Following the hike in fuel prices, local transporters in Rawalpindi have again jacked up the intra-city fare by up to Rs20 without waiting for the official nod.

Transporters including mini-buses, wagons and Suzuki pick-ups in Rawalpindi have jacked up stop-to-stop by up to Rs60 after an increase of Rs10.

Similarly, transporters have increased the single route fare between the twin cities of Islamabad by up to Rs80 after a raise of Rs20.

Local rickshaw drivers have also increased the intra-city fare by up to Rs30. Private motorcycle hail riders have also increased fares by up to Rs180. The motorcycle hail riders have increased the fare between the twin cities up to Rs300.

The transporters have increased the fares after the government increased the prices of petroleum products by up to Rs59.16 per litre.

Commuters including students and office-goers have strongly protested the unilateral increase in fares by the transporters and the failure of the RTA to enforce official fares.

Due to the unilateral increase in fares, passengers and transporters remained indulged in verbal spats and physical altercations on different routes.

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

The Regional Transport Authority and the district administration remained silent on the unilateral increase in fares.

Local transporters have again submitted a requisition to the Regional Transport Authority seeking an increase in fares and fixing new rates.

According to the Regional Transport Authority, the government has not notified new fares and anyone who increases fares unilaterally will face the consequences. It said that penalties will be slapped and vehicles will be challaned. The authority said that a request will be sent to the Punjab government to increase fares and until the approval, no one can raise the fare unilaterally.

The Pakistan Railways has also decided to increase fares due to an increase in the prices of petroleum products.

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

The fare from Rawalpindi to Peshawar has been increased by Rs250, Lahore by Rs300, Gujranwala by Rs280, Faisalabad by Rs330, Multan by Rs500, Bahawalpur by Rs650 and Karachi by Rs1,300. The fare has been increased by Rs100 from Rawalpindi to all suburbs including Gujjar Khan, Kalar Syedan, Kahuta, Kotli Satyan, Murree, Taxila and Chak Bailey Khan.

Transport federation leader Asif Khan said that the record increase in the prices of petroleum products in the history of the country has destroyed the transport business.

He said that the number of passengers has started declining and they could not pay the extra fare and many passengers cry out in helplessness and many of them start quarrelling.

Transporters Tariq Khan and Ghulam Mustafa said that the price of petrol and diesel has been increased to a catastrophic rate, which has unleashed hyperinflation in all sectors including transportation.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2022.