Public transporters on Monday observed a strike while demanding automatic adjustment in fare-chart according to the petroleum prices and against the imposition of heavy fines on the transporters over minor violations by the Rawalpindi traffic police. Public transport, except Taxi and Rickshaw, remained off the roads on almost all the routes of the twin cities after a strike call was given by the Muttahida Transporters Federation. Cashing in on the opportunity, taxi drivers made extra money from commuters who had to reach their destinations like offices, schools, colleges and courts in time. Attendance in offices and educational intuitions remained thin as everyone was not able to pay the heavy fares charged by the taxi drivers, who were operating under no check by the departments concerned. “There is no mechanism to fix taxi fare per kilometer. They charge on their own keeping in view the situation and weather. If there is strike, gas holidays, late night time or rains, they will always charge extra money as they know there is nobody to check them,” said a furious commuter, Kabir Shah, who paid Rs 400 as fare from Swan Adda to Saddar.
