Lahore / Islamabad:
While the rush to the trips of Eid reaches its peak, the passengers across the country found themselves between a rock and a hard place on Saturday – fighting to obtain tickets while being stolen by hiking carriers.
Despite the special Eid trains and government’s repression, workers and students who return to their native cities deplored that carriers were counting quickly by invoicing exorbitant rates.
Many have been left rushing for the last -minute seats, some were even forced to pay by the nose for their return trip.
One day after the last special Eid train left Karachi Cantt in Lahore, travelers – especially workers and students – deplored that carriers billed more than fixed rates. Many said they had no choice but to pay a supplement to reach their native cities in time for the festivities.
Pakistan Railways (PR) had announced a 20% discount on the prices for the first three days of Eid, but passengers stressed that the concession did not apply to the five special trains operating in the days preceding the holidays, not leaving them a real relief.
Due to high prices on the highway and the GT road, many travelers preferred trains, while some had no choice but to travel by bus.
Lahore station has seen a wave of passengers, especially after closing offices for Eid.
To meet increased demand, public relations have added additional coaches to several trains, including three additional bogies – one AC and two sleeping coaches – for routes to Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Multan.
However, passengers argued that prices discounts starting after Eid were not very useful for those who were traveling beforehand.
“Most people go to their native cities before Eid and come back a few days later, so the discount should also have to cover these days,” said a nave that
Many have urged the railways to improve the quality of the service and to ensure punctuality instead of relying solely on prices reductions.
In order to monitor pricing violations, Islamabad traffic police (ITP) intensified their repression against overload carriers, with special teams deployed in the main bus terminals, including Faizabad, Mandi Mor, Karachi Company and 26 Chungi numbers.
A spokesperson for the ITP said the police were checking the dishes lists, issuing fines to the offenders and reimbursing the passengers who had been overcharged. Citizens were encouraged to report prices violations to the ITP telephone assistance line at 1915.
Meanwhile, the Minister -in -Chief of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, ordered strict repression against carriers, invoicing excessive prices of passengers during Eid, ordering the authorities to ensure compliance with the rates of official prices in all districts.
President of a meeting on transport management, CM Maryam asked assistants to closely monitor compliance with prices and avoid overload.
She said that the official pricing lists must be displayed in good place in all bus terminals to prevent the exploitation of confronted travelers, in particular low -income passengers.
In addition to prices regulation, the chief minister also ordered cleaning discs in bus stands, guaranteeing appropriate seats arrangements and functional fans in waiting areas.
