A couple of days ago, I went to Islamabad airport to drop off my relatives going abroad. The immigration personnel asked for a photocopy of two front pages of passport of the passenger. I was flabbergasted when four pages of passport were photocopied for 70 rupees. Unfortunately, people were paying silently. I asked as to why it was so, the photocopier operator replied, “It is rupees 35 per set of passport and you have got two sets.” What to speak of exorbitant prices of other eatable items being sold in airport premises.
The concept of assisting and helping passengers has gone with the wind. Everybody wants to reap the best money from foreign passengers. The porter asked me to pay Rs 300 for his entry fee so that he would guide the passenger to boarding card counter and for that purpose whatever paid to him will be accepted. Such gross injustice in the name of facilitating passengers is never seen in any other part of the world. To whom should one complain for such high and unfair charges that tarnish the image of our country in the eyes of foreigners and overseas Pakistanis travelling to different destinations from Islamabad airport?
We don’t know where the unbridled horse of “lawlessness” will stop or it will continuously trample the carcasses of hapless poor people gasping badly for their life. The core issue of overcharging for petty items and services has never been addressed in our country. Disfiguring the notion of good governance has always left a big question mark for those enjoying powers.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
