Transporters increase fares

Rawalpindi: Long route and goods transporters have increased fares by 15 per cent after fresh hike in petroleum products. While, the local transporters were already taking stop-by-stop fare at Rs50 have demanded to further increase fares otherwise they would go on strike.

In the latest price review, the petrol price has been increased to Rs289.41 per litre, up by 3.45 per cent (Rs9.66). The District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) Secretary Rashid Ali told ‘The News’ that transporters could not increase fares without proper notification. Punjab government yet not issued any kind of notification to increase transport fares. “We are continuously taking action against transporters they were fleecing public,” he claimed.

The business community and motorists expressed deep concern over rise in prices of petroleum products and demanded the government to immediately reverse the increase. ‘The News’ interviewed different citizens of Rawalpindi and Islamabad they strongly protested against fresh hike in petroleum products before Eid-ul-Fitr. The transporters were already taking extra fares on special occasions now they will take huge amount fares, people bemoaned.

Shabbir Ahmed a resident of Mohan Pura said that we were expecting relief from this government but in vain because this government was continuously increasing POL prices, electricity and gas prices. A common man was already leading a tough life in this country, how we could survive in this famine like situation, he said.

Nasir Hussain another citizen said that how poor community will survive in this situation. The situation was going towards anarchy, he warned. He said that before general election, all political parties were ready to provide public cheaper rates petrol, free of cost electricity and cheaper rates natural gas, where the promises have gone, he strongly protested. He said the government should give relief to the people, adding, petrol and diesel prices have a direct impact on transportation costs and the construction sector will also be affected.