Peshawar admin makes transporters return overcharged fare to passengers

Keeping in view reports of passengers’ exploitation by transporters ahead of Eidul Fitr, the Peshawar district administration has devised a plan to facilitate the public and stop overcharging by transport crew.

Teams of the district administration checked over 3,000 vehicles and returned Rs 760,000 to passengers during the past five days. An official statement said that a series of meetings were held and a special plan was devised to overcome the problem.

All the four bus stands, including Peshawar Bus Terminal, Haji Camp Bus Stand, Charsadda Adda and Kohat Road Adda, were visited by teams of officials where banners were displayed for public awareness and also a warning to the transporters to avoid overcharging.

The administration has also imposed Section 144 on sale of toy guns and firecrackers in Peshawar to discourage Kalashnikov culture and to divert the attention of children towards healthy activities. The raiding parties of administration have also confiscated fireworks and hundreds of toy guns in this connection.

Four teams comprising representatives of the transporters, Municipal Corporation Peshawar and traffic police, headed by additional assistant commissioner, checked vehicles and asked the passengers to know if they had paid extra fare.

It was stated that Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud had also constituted 12 teams of officials for effective price control to ensure availability of food items at the government prescribed rates.

It was stated that until 27th of Ramzan a total fine levied in Peshawar on account of overcharging and low quality of food was over Rs4.8 million. During the raids 9,640 premises were visited and 1,782 accused persons arrested. The administration also took the initiative of establishing Ramzan sasta bazaar at Chowk Yadgar where 50 stalls were set up to provide daily use items to public. The administration also formed market committees with the involvement of community in different areas to facilitate consumers. Besides, anti-encroachment drive also remained effective.

Several operations were conducted in Hayatabad, Karkhano and University Road where 693 cabins were removed, while two double storey houses at Gulbahar were demolished. In addition 1.5 kanals of government land was retrieved in Yousufzai market, Hayatabad. Land properties were also retrieved in other parts of the district, the statement claimed.

The administration has also warned the owners of bakeries to avoid overcharging. After negotiations the rates of various sweets were fixed in the limits of provincial metropolis. The administration has launched SMS service in Peshawar so that the residents could communicate their concerns to the relevant officials.