Van locked with school children inside

The efficiency of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) staff took a harsh turn when a school van, found with an expired annual token, was impounded along with the students inside the vehicle at the Old GTS bus stand in Rawalpindi.

Students of grade five and six from a government school were forced to sit inside the van for an hour under the blazing sun. Even citizens' pleas for mercy were ignored by the staff.

After the incident was aired on Express News, Regional Transport Authority Secretary Syed Asad Abbas took notice and arranged for the children to be dropped home safely.

The previous day, the RTA had launched a general inspection operation near Saddar against public transport vehicles.

During the crackdown, a school van carrying 10 to 12 students from a government school was stopped.

On checking, officials found that the driver had not renewed the vehicle's annual token. Following legal protocol, the van was ordered to be impounded at the RTA office.

Despite the driver's repeated requests that the students belonged to Dhoke Ratta and should be dropped home first, the officials refused and locked the van with the children inside.

For an hour, the young students sat uncomfortably in the heat as bystanders appealed for leniency — all in vain.

After Express News highlighted the issue, Secretary Asad Abbas took immediate action, directing staff to ensure the children were safely sent home.