It seems that the significant cut in petroleum prices was only to appease transporters as they are not ready to reduce fares to give some relief to poverty-stricken commuters. The transporters, in connivance with the authorities, increased fares in mid-June, a day before reduction in petroleum prices, and now they have refused to revise them. Ironically, the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) is showing no interest in directing transporters to reduce fares which registered an increase of Rs 3 from one stop to next stop and an increase of Rs 10 to get from one end to another end. The Islamabad Transport Authority has been shifting responsibility to the Rawalpindi Transport Authority for reducing the fares, saying public transport in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is interconnected. Sources in the ICT administration told Pakistan Today that Islamabad Transport Authority is being run by a tainted secretary. They said that ITA Secretary Khawaja Maqbool Mustafa has no interest in mitigating public sufferings and he has been enjoying ‘connections’ with transporters. The sources said that, currently, three departmental inquiries are underway against the influential secretary.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Amir Ahmed Ali confirmed that departmental inquires are in progress against the secretary, however, he didn’t divulge further information in this regard. Talking about the fares, the DC said that the ICT administration follows the rates set by the Rawalpindi Regional Transport Authority as the twin cities’ transport basically originates from Rawalpindi, adding talks were underway with the RTA. “We have taken up the issue with RTA and transporters. The other day we held a detailed meeting in this regard. Within two days the issue will be resolved,” he added.
Talking to Pakistan Today a number of commuters said that it is sheer injustice to them as whenever the government increases fuel prices, the transporters start charging increased fares. This time when the government has significantly reduced the petroleum prices, the transporters are charging increased fares. “The transporters are working as ‘mafia’. They increase prices whenever they want and the authorities concerned always behave like a silent spectator,” said Amin Ahmed, a private worker who daily travels from Committee Chowk to Aabpara. The commuters who were interviewed by this scribe demanded of the government to pay attention to resolve this issue.
