The business hub of the country, Karachi, is home to a large migrant labor force, which after a year of toiling endlessly for making ends meet, looks forward to returning home for the auspicious occasion of Eid. Unfortunately, every year, the hopes of many migrant workers for a family reunion are shattered when transport providers religiously spike inter-city bus fares just ahead of the festive season.
Sadia, a woman employed by a government institution in Karachi shared that the expenses on children's education and household maintenance had increased to such an extent that travelling back home for Eid had become unfeasible. "Last year, when I traveled to Lahore with my family, I paid Rs2000 extra per person for the bus tickets, which costs us Rs55,000 in total. My savings are insufficient this year given the rate of the bus fares," said Sadia, who will not be going back home this Eid.
Similarly, Sultana, a widow hailing from Multan works at a sewing factory in Karachi with her two daughters. "All three of us save money throughout the year to travel back home but the two-way bus travel fares for three persons this year have reached Rs30,000, due to which we cannot afford to celebrate Eid with our loved ones. There are hundreds of migrant workers like me, who will celebrate Eid alone without their families in Karachi," said Sultana.
Unlike Sadia and Sultana, Samiullah, a waiter from Pishin was lucky enough to work for an employer who paid a portion of his travel fares for Eid. "This year, due to the increase in diesel prices, bus fares have reached Rs6,500 for Eid. My boss has given me Rs5,000 which will be useful for a one-way fare. I have saved Rs20,000 for other expenses," said Samiullah.
"Last year, I paid Rs5400 for a bus ticket during Eid but now the same ticket costs me Rs6000," revealed Saifullah, a barber from Sardogha.
According to Malik Asif Raza, the owner of a hotel, people from different areas of Punjab, K-P, and Balochistan work across different sectors in Karachi and the daily wage of these workers is Rs800 to Rs1500. "These laborers wish to go to their native areas for the two Eid's but due to inflation and increase in transportation fares, 60 per cent cannot afford to travel home for Eid since at least Rs30,000 is required for one trip," opined Raza.
"The purchasing power of people has decreased due to inflation. People cannot afford increasing transportation fares. Due to the inattention of the government, every year transporters increase the fare of inter-city and inter-provincial buses on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha," said Ahmed Raza, a social leader, who implored the government to reduce the fares by 30 to 50 percent on both Eid's so that the migrant workers of Karachi can celebrate Eid at home.
On the other hand, Akram, a secretary at the Saddar bus stand, maintained that the fare from Karachi to different districts of the country was different. "On normal days, the prescribed fare is charged. Some bus owners charge extra fare on the occasion of Eid on their own accord. In general, there is a directive from the union not to increase the fares."
Similarly, an official from the Inter-City and Inter-Provincial Buses Uion held that the union had not issued any directive regarding the imposition of additional fares before Eid.
Commenting on the matter, a spokesperson of the Sindh Government's Transport Department said, "Strict action is being taken against the increase in inter-city and inter-provincial transport fares before Eid and the transporters have been instructed to charge fixed fares only."
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2024.
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