RAWALPINDI:
Following a second major hike in oil prices, public transport operating within the city, on long journeys between the twin cities and surrounding areas, increased their fares.
The stop-to-stop fare has been increased to Rs30, making it the new minimum fare.
Rawalpindi-Islamabad public transport increased the fare per passenger by Rs15, while routes to suburban areas and tehsils including Rawat and Taxila saw an increase of Rs20. Intra-city routes increased their fares by Rs10.
Pakistan Railways is also expected to increase fares this week.
Transportation of goods from Karachi to Peshawar, including trailers and containers, increased from Rs 0.25 million to Rs 0.27 million. Locally, cyclists have increased fares from Rs150 to Rs200 per trip. Qingqi rickshaws have increased their fares by Rs 10 per passenger.
The increase in fares has given rise to conflicts between carriers and passengers. Drivers have reportedly started disembarking passengers who refuse to pay higher fares.
Citizens complained that carriers began charging a full seat fare for baggage and collecting the fare for minor children. Transfer services for students and female employees have also increased their fares, demanding between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per trip for students.
Citizen Feroz Ali said that when the prices of petrol and diesel were reduced two weeks ago, the rates were not reduced, but they were increased immediately after the hike, terming it unfair. Transport Federation vice-president Asif Khan said fuel prices are decreasing slightly but increasing significantly.
He added that prices of vehicles have been increased by 500 percent, tires and tubes by 700 to 1,000 percent, spare parts by 100 percent and traffic constraints have been increased by Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. Each vehicle faces three to five challans per month. He said the salaries of drivers, conductors and workers had also increased and transport stand charges were payable. Due to rising costs, the transportation sector has been crippled and 30 to 35 percent of small transporters have left the sector in the last three years due to continued losses.
