Fuel costs drive up school van fares

ISLAMABAD:

Following the recent surge in petrol prices linked to Middle East tensions, school van and private transport owners in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have unilaterally increased monthly fares by up to 40 per cent, putting an extra financial burden on parents. Parents alleged that van owners are demanding Rs2,000 to Rs4,000 extra per month without any regulatory check, despite most schools being located within a three to five kilometre radius.

A mother of two, Sidra said "My children go to a school in F-7, just 10 minutes away from our home in G-10, but the van driver has increased the fee from Rs6000 to Rs8,000, citing petrol hike."

She said even though the government is giving a petrol subsidy for 800cc vehicles, there is no justification for them to charge so much.

We are already paying heavy school fees. This additional transport cost is unbearable for a middle-class family, she added.

Another parent Abdul Hanan stated that "They are using the petrol hike as an excuse. They charge full fee even during summer and winter vacations and there is no one to ask them."

On the other hand, van owners defended the increase, calling it unavoidable. "Beside petrol, we have to pay for CNG, maintenance, and traffic challans. How can we operate in old fares? If we don't increase, we will have to park the vans," a van owner said.