Rawalpindi transporters threaten to go on hunger strike from Monday
Demand that the Punjab government withdraw ‘inhumane’ increase in fines.
RAWALPINDI:
Public transporters will go on a hunger strike from Monday to protest against what they term an “unnatural increase” in the fines on traffic violations.
The public transporters unions of wagons, Suzuki vans, taxicabs and rickshaws said on Saturday that they will continue their protest until the Punjab government takes back its decision.
All Pakistan Transporters Association President Malik Mehboob Elahi termed the hike in fines “inhumane”, as it directly affects the income of daily-wage drivers.
Elahi said that transporters are often imposed penalties for parking vehicles at prohibited areas, adding that in the absence of bus bays and defined bus stops along
major avenues, public transporters are bound to suffer from the increased cost of penalties.
He said around four years ago, the provincial authorities increased the penalties for traffic violations, but they eventually had to take back the decision.
Three weeks ago, the Punjab government authorised up to 100% increase in fines on traffic violations, increasing the minimum fine for motorists from Rs100 to Rs200, and the maximum fine from Rs500 to Rs1,000. The minimum fine for public transporters has been increased from Rs300 to Rs500.
Rawalpindi Union of Suzuki Vans President Raja Muhammad Bashir said that the government does not realise the gravity of this decision and the effect it will have on the livelihoods of drivers, who are barely making ends meet.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Saqib Zafar that the increase in penalties was a decision of the Punjab government; however, he added that he has heard the concerns of the transporters and has communicated them to the Punjab secretary of transport.
The DCO added that the final decision rests with the provincial government. Until then they will continue to impose new fines.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.
Public transporters will go on a hunger strike from Monday to protest against what they term an “unnatural increase” in the fines on traffic violations.
The public transporters unions of wagons, Suzuki vans, taxicabs and rickshaws said on Saturday that they will continue their protest until the Punjab government takes back its decision.
All Pakistan Transporters Association President Malik Mehboob Elahi termed the hike in fines “inhumane”, as it directly affects the income of daily-wage drivers.
Elahi said that transporters are often imposed penalties for parking vehicles at prohibited areas, adding that in the absence of bus bays and defined bus stops along
major avenues, public transporters are bound to suffer from the increased cost of penalties.
He said around four years ago, the provincial authorities increased the penalties for traffic violations, but they eventually had to take back the decision.
Three weeks ago, the Punjab government authorised up to 100% increase in fines on traffic violations, increasing the minimum fine for motorists from Rs100 to Rs200, and the maximum fine from Rs500 to Rs1,000. The minimum fine for public transporters has been increased from Rs300 to Rs500.
Rawalpindi Union of Suzuki Vans President Raja Muhammad Bashir said that the government does not realise the gravity of this decision and the effect it will have on the livelihoods of drivers, who are barely making ends meet.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Saqib Zafar that the increase in penalties was a decision of the Punjab government; however, he added that he has heard the concerns of the transporters and has communicated them to the Punjab secretary of transport.
The DCO added that the final decision rests with the provincial government. Until then they will continue to impose new fines.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.