"We cannot accept a 1,000 per cent increase in fines. A doubling of fines might have been acceptable but the suggested increase is considerably higher," KTI Chief Irshad Hussain Bukhari. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Members of Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) and other transport unions decided to go on strike if the traffic police tried to impose the revised fines, during a meeting at the organisations' office on Wednesday.
The new revised list of fines was announced by the chief of traffic police, DIG Abdul Khalique Shaikh, during a press conference on Monday. On Thursday, a delegation from Karachi Bus Owners Association and Muslim Mini Bus and Coach Owners Association raised the issue with DIG Shaikh.
KTI Chief Irshad Hussain Bukhari told The Express Tribune that DIG Shaikh will arrange for the transporters to present their case to Karachi’s commissioner and Sindh’s chief secretary. “We cannot accept a 1,000 per cent increase in fines,” he said, adding that a doubling of fines might have been acceptable but the suggested increase was considerably higher.
DIG Shaikh, while confirming the proposed meeting, added that the final decision would be made by the government. “We have also asked the transporters to strictly follow the traffic rules,” he said. “Buses cannot stop in the middle of roads to pick or drop passengers and they must be driven on bus lanes.” He also mentioned that he had asked the transporters to not give bhatta [bribes] to police officials when they broke the rules. “We want to eliminate the bhatta trend from the police,” he added.
A declining sector
The senior vice president of Karachi Bus Owners Association, Jamshed Khan Lashari, told The Express Tribune that they would be forced to shut down their businesses if the fines were implemented. “There is a shortage of public transport and not a single big businessman or company wants to invest in this sector because of the law and order situation,” he said. “The increase in fines will be a major blow to the business which is vanishing already.” Lashari explained that the association used to operate 4,000 busses in the city which have come down to a few hundred.
The new fines will be implemented after four days when the traffic police receive their new fine-books which are in the process of being printed.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2013.
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how is this unfair to anyone ? its pretty simple. just follow the rules. NO ONE will face any problems if they just get over their rule breaking attitudes and follow the rules.
countries all around the world have incredibly high fines for roads. we can clearly see how well it has worked for them and how the low "50Rs" fines have worked for us so far.
This is a good way to fix our streets and its drivers. this strike is ridiculous.
We would like that they apply this fees. By doing this whether it is any tour bus motorist or perhaps man or women in Truck can think carefully prior to busting legal issues. Possessing said the most important legislations breakers are generally vehicles as well as engine cycles but car or truck motorists are certainly not considerably guiding. Electric motor Series being number 1 seeing that their particular quantities are generally increased.
This is not Fair with the transporters. I think if businessman invest in transport sector then there is no shortage of public transportation. But now a days Businessman invest there money to private sector like they invest in rent a car services and all that, just because to earn more money.
I wish they implement the fines. This way be it a bus driver or person in Jeep will think twice before breaking the law. Having said the biggest law breakers are buses and motor cycles but car drivers are not far behind. Motor Cycles being number 1 as their numbers are higher.