Fuel price spike sparks fare surge

Minimum city fare fixed at Rs30, goods transport and bike rides become costlier

RAWALPINDI:

Following a second major increase in petroleum prices, public transport operating within the city, on long routes between the twin cities and surrounding areas has raised fares.

The stop-to-stop fare has been increased to Rs30, making it the new minimum fare.

Rawalpindi-Islamabad public transport has raised per passenger fare by Rs15, while routes to suburban areas and tehsils including Rawat and Taxila have seen a Rs20 increase. Intra-city routes have increased fares by Rs10.

Pakistan Railways is also expected to raise fares this week.

Karachi to Peshawar goods transport, including trailers and containers, has increased from Rs0.25 million to Rs0.27 million. Locally, bike riders have raised fares from Rs150 to Rs200 per ride. Qingqi rickshaws have increased fares by Rs10 per passenger.

The fare hike has led to disputes between transporters and passengers. Conductors have reportedly begun offloading passengers who refuse to pay increased fares.

Citizens complained that transporters have started charging a full seat fare for luggage and collecting fares from minor children. Pick-and-drop services for students and female employees have also increased charges, demanding between Rs500 and Rs1,000 per route from students.

Citizen Feroz Ali said when petrol and diesel prices decreased two weeks ago, fares were not reduced, but they were increased immediately after the hike, terming it unfair. Transport Federation Vice President Asif Khan said fuel prices decrease marginally but increase substantially.

He added that vehicle prices had risen by 500 per cent, tyres and tubes by 700 to 1,000 per cent, spare parts by 100 per cent, and traffic challans had been increased from Rs10,000 to Rs20,000. Each vehicle faces three to five challans monthly. He said drivers, conductors and labour wages had also increased, and transport stand fees were payable. Due to rising costs, the transport business had been paralysed, and 30 to 35 per cent of small transporters had left the sector in the past three years due to continuous losses.