Rawalpindi:
In the wake of a sustained and sharp increase in petrol and diesel prices, transport operators on all roads in twin cities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad implemented significant dishes on Wednesday.
The increases affected all the modes of transport in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including local, interurban and long distance trips.
A recent increase in RS11 per liter in diesel prices has also inflated the cost of transporting essential food supplies, which raises concerns about a wave of imminent inflation. Public transport prices have increased from RS5 to ROS15 per passenger, arousing wide frustration among shuttlers.
Local rickshaws, taxis and Qingqi rickshaws have followed suit, increasing passenger prices. Motorcycle transport services such as Bykea have increased their minimum rate to RS100. Meanwhile, the minibus, the cars and the layers started to charge passengers additional costs to transport luggage.
Pakistan Railways has also announced its intention to revise its price structure. In parallel, freight carriers have collectively agreed with a 10% increase in freight fees for interurban and long -term deliveries.
Muhammad Faisal, vice-president of the union of goods transport, explains that the carriers refrained from raising prices after the previous increase in fuel prices on July 1. However, the last increase in diesel prices – pushing the rates to a higher Rs. 284 per liter – left them without viable alternative but to adjust the prices.
Asif Khan, vice-president of the Federation of Transport, has criticized the government’s continuous price increases over the past six weeks. He noted that on the free market, tire prices, spare parts and mechanical services increased from 500% to 800%. In addition, he highlighted the increase in circulation fines and penalties, which all pushed the transport sector on the verge of collapse.
The impact of tariff increases is already visible, with a sharp drop in the number of passengers. “When families have traveled together for weddings and funerals, only one or two members make the trip due to the cost increase,” Khan said.
He warned that if fuel prices, spare parts, highway tolls and vehicle costs continue to intensify, many small transport companies will close, resulting in an increase in unemployment.
Faizan Ali, a motorcycle operator bykea, echoes these concerns. “Our regular horsemen were those who paid RS50 to RS100. With almost dubbing prices, many can no longer afford the service. Now, two passengers often share a single route to divide the cost.”
He also noted the disparity between international and national trends: “world fuel prices drop, but locally, we continue to raise them.”
Citizens have criticized the government’s decision, stressing that world oil prices have dropped a historic hollow per barrel, but Pakistan has increased internal prices.
They described it as a cruel decision and demanded immediate prices.
Citizens noted that during the PTI government, world oil prices were around $ 120 per barrel while petrol in Pakistan was at the price between 150 and 155 rupees per liter.
