Transporters want raise in fines, vehicle tax rolled back

Association of transporters decides on an indefinite strike from April 24 if demands not met.

KARACHI:

The transporters in the city have announced to go on an indefinite strike from April 24 if the government does not roll back the increase in traffic fines and Motor Vehicle Tax (MVT).

The decision was taken after a meeting of Sindh Bus Owners Association, All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association and Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) at the KTI office on Tuesday.

Talking to The Express Tribune, KTI chairperson Irshad Bukhari said that they have decided to go on strike because nothing came out of the three meetings they have had with the DIG Traffic and other government officials. “We request the Sindh governor and the caretaker chief minister to take back the orders and leave the matter for the next government.”

Bukhari said that hike in traffic fines was announced by the former CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah. He said that fines have been jacked by 5,000 per cent while the MVT has seen a rise of 400 per cent. “The annual MVT was Rs5,000 for a 50-seater bus and now it’s Rs25,000. This is beyond our reach and that’s why we are going on strike.”

Bukhari also said they will revoke their strike call if the government takes back its decisions in the next few days.

Another transporter, Rab Nawaz, said that their business is finding it hard to survive owing to the lack of investment due to the precarious law and order situation in the city. The fines, he said, will push them out of business. “Previously sergeants used to fine us between Rs100 and Rs200 and the maximum fine was Rs500, which was rarely imposed, but now they normally fine us between Rs1,000 and Rs2,000.”

“Whenever we broke traffic laws, Rs50 or Rs100 bribe was enough to avoid a challan but now they don’t compromise on anything less than Rs300,” said Afzal Khan, a bus driver who plies his bus between Keamari and North Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2013.