[Not] Out with the old: Transporters reject ban on decades-old vehicles

PESHAWAR:

Transporters have rejected the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to impose a ban on the use of old vehicles for public transport in the provincial capital.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Public Transport Owners Association (PTOA) President Khan Zaman Afridi said even though the Afghan government also placed a similar ban and confiscated such vehicles being used by public transporters; it also provided new vehicles. “The Afghan government issued vehicles on an interest-free lease,” said Afridi.

Belgian vehicles

When asked, K-P Special Assistant to Chief Minister (CM) for Transport Malik Shah Muhammad Khan Wazir said the government has signed an MoU with a private transport company from Belgium.

“The Belgian vehicles will soon be on the roads and all vehicles registered before 1995 will be banned from plying the roads of Peshawar,” he said. Wazir assured that the department will address the concerns of public transporters, however, directives have already been issued to clear the district of old vehicles.

Muttahida Transport Union (MTU) Secretary General Mustafa Khan said Chief Minister Pervez Khattak should have taken transport associations into confidence before penning down the deal with the Belgian company. Local Transport Union (LTU) President Yar Muhammad Afridi urged the government to review the decision and facilitate public transporters.

The Taxi Drivers and Workers Union members met Wazir and requested Bacha Khan International Airport and government hospital provide entry permits for taxis and rickshaws. Transport director Manzoor Ahmad was also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2015.