Despite a reasonable cut in the prices of petroleum products and CNG, the public transport plying in twin cities were in no mood to reduce the latest increase in fare.
Around 60 to 70 percent of the population of Rawalpindi and Islamabad use public transport and commuters traveling daily are worst hit due to the latest increase in the fares owing to the surge in fuel prices some days ago. The increase in fares affects the commuters, particularly students, low-income and daily-wage workers who are already on a tight budget. Commuters lauded the government for bringing down fuel prices but deplored public transporters for not withdrawing the raise in the fares. Moreover, arguments and quarrels have become a routine between transporters and commuters when commuters are not ready to pay the higher fare. Muhammad Tariq, a student said it was not possible for him to pay the increased fare from his pocket money, adding that he spendt most of his pocket money on fares of public transport.
Munawara Karim, a private employee, said she had to travel from Saddar to F-6 to got to work, adding that the latest transport fares had badly affected her monthly budget. The latest increase in the fares of public transport by transportation authorities was an absolute injustice, said Ibrahim Janjua, a student, adding that fare was increased in the pretext of increase in prices of petroleum products and CNG but now after the prices were reduced twice, the fares were not revised. When asked, Afzal, a driver said it was the responsibility of the transportation authority to revise the fares, adding that if transport authorities of the twin cities did so, they would happily accept it.
