Rising oil prices: Transporters to increase fares in K-P

Rickshaw unions in Charsadda take to roads and threaten strike.

PESHAWAR/ CHARSADDA: Transporters have given the government a two-day deadline before they begin to increase fares for inter-district and inter-provincial travel.

The transporters formed a strategy in a meeting on Sunday, which was attended by representatives from different transport unions. “We will hold a strike if the government does not reduce prices,” said Urban Transport Union President, Khan Zaman Afridi.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had increased petroleum prices by Rs7.77, high speed diesel by Rs5.94, and CNG by Rs7.11. Afridi said when the government first increased petroleum prices, transporters did not increase their fares as they thought prices would not go up again.

“We will observe a district-level and then a provincial strike to pressurise the federal government,” he said. “If it fails to revise the cost of fuel to their previous prices, we will increase our fares according to the new oil prices.” Afridi also added that the government had not consulted any transporters before increasing prices.

“Transporters will meet on Tuesday to discuss the increase in fares of inter-provincial travel,” said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Transport Federation President, Zahir Shah. “The government has not yet issued a new fare list but a 10% to 15% increase is expected,” Shah said.

Rickshaw unions up in arms

Rickshaw unions across the district protested the increase in petroleum prices on Sunday. They demanded that their fares be increased in line with fuel increases. The protest was held after Ogra increased the prices of petrol to Rs104.55 per litre.

During the protest, demonstrators chanted slogans against Ogra. Addressing the rally, Rickshaw Union president, Waheed Gul, and vice president, Fawad, said that despite an increase in fuel costs they were charging the same fare. “The unions have decided not to ply their  vehicles till the decision is withdrawn,” said Gul.

Talking to journalists, public transport users said students who go to schools and colleges would suffer the most due to the transporter strikes.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2012.