Relief: Public transport fare cut after fuel price change

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has reduced public transport fares to pass on the impact of the recent reduction in diesel prices, Lahore Transport Company Chairman Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan said while talking to the media on Sunday.

Hassaan said that a meeting held with representatives of transporters and the District Regional Transport Authority to facilitate the people by reducing fares had concluded successfully and there had been an agreement on reducing the fares. He said that there would be a four-paisa per kilometre reduction in the fare of inter-city non-air conditioned diesel buses and mini buses.

According to the new fare schedule, there would be a six-paisa per kilometre decrease in the fare of public transport plying metalled roads and a four-paisa per kilometre reduction for transport using kacha plain roads and in hilly area. Hassaan said that representatives of intra-city AC bus transporters had agreed to reduce the fare by up to 5 percent and goods transporters had also assured of reducing the fare by the same ratio. Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yaseen said that regular meetings were being held in order to monitor the fluctuation in commodity prices with a view to stabilise them. He said that potato was available in the market for Rs 45 per kg and the price would gradually come down further. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2014.