By SALMAN ASHRAF
The overcharging by taxi drivers and the shortage of local transport on different routes in Islamabad are creating problems for the masses.
Due to the lack of public transport alternatives, people have been using taxis to reach their destinations but the taxi fares are burgeoned as there are no metre systems in the taxis.
The commuters said that the taxi drivers charge with their own choices rather than the destination and the outside visitors, who come to the capital for the first time, face the problem of being overcharged.
Zeeshan, a young boy who came to visit his friends in Islamabad, claimed that a taxi driver charged him Rs 400 for 13 kilometres. However, the taxi drivers charge approximately Rs 30 per kilometre.
Rubina, another local commuter, said that females face problems bargaining with the taxi drivers and in public transport, only front seats are available for the ladies.
“If a metre system is installed in the taxis, we can check our distance and fare per kilometre that will facilitate us,” she added.
A taxi driver, Wasif, said that maintenance charges have increased and we cannot maintain the balance of income and expenses. “I have a family of eight members and in this age of inflation, it is hard to survive,” he said.
A commuter, Advocate Shehryar, said that it is the responsibility of the capital’s administration and Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) to install metre systems in the taxis to control the fare and facilitate public.
ITP Inspector Saleem said that they have not received any complaints by the commuters in this regard and if they would, the ITP would take action against the taxi drivers.
“Our taxi drivers are always in a mode of trickery and do not follow the rules of federal capital traffic police,” he added.
