- Commuters term decrease in fares ‘nominal’, say unlikely to make any significant impact as ‘transporters will continue to charge Rs 15 for Rs 14 ticket’
Following a massive dip in the petroleum prices, capital city’s public transporters have finally agreed a decrease of seven percent in transport fare on stop-to-stop basis on all public transport routes.
In a meeting held between Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA)’s Marriam Mumtaz and a delegation of different transport unions of Islamabad on Wednesday, both parties agreed to reduce public transport fares in accordance with the decrease announced by the Punjab government.
Talking to Pakistan Today, an ITA official said, “There is this tradition in capital city that we decrease or increase transport fares according to the announcement of Punjab government as many of transport routes of capital city culminate in Rawalpindi which is situated in Punjab.”
The official added that a decision has been taken in principle for 7 percent decrease in the fare for all public transport routes in the capital and Rawalpindi and a notification in this regard will be issued today.
Federation of Transport Unions of Islamabad President Haji Malik Nawab told Pakistan Today that the transporters wanted to transfer the benefit of decrease in petroleum prices to the masses and therefore they had agreed to decrease the fares for commuters who travel in public transport in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
“Although we wanted to continue with current fares till petrol price came back to Rs 93 per litre yet we had to concede as our transport staff was facing intense criticism from the commuters on daily basis after the decrease announced by the government in petrol prices,” Nawab further said.
On the other hand, the commuters have rejected the decrease terming it nominal and very unlikely to make any significant impact on their monthly transport fare expenditure.
“I am disappointed to hear one rupee decrease in the fare because it will make absolutely no difference as transporters will keep on charging Rs 15 instead of Rs 14 for stop-to-stop fare on pretext of lack of change coins,” a commuter on G-9 van terminal said.
Another commuter, Asif Khan termed the decrease “meaningless” because “there was little chance that the decision will be implemented”.
“We do not expect any good from the government or the transporters as they are all hands in gloves with each other, nobody bothers about the common man and there is no hope for us.”
