Transporters revolting against the decision of the District Coordination Officer (DCO) for shifting Badami Bagh Bus Terminal to Thokar Niaz Beig Tuesday staged a protest in front of Lahore Press Club and announced to hold another protest rally from Badami Bagh terminal to Minar-e-Pakistan on Wednesday. The transporters termed the DCO decision arbitrary and against public interest.
They were raising slogans against the Punjab government’s decision of shifting the terminal and demanded the government to revert this decision otherwise they would extend their protest from Lahore to other cities of the province. Talking to Pakistan Today, All Pakistan Transporter Owners Association Lahore Wing President Akhter Khan Niazi said about 4000 public transport left the terminal to other cities on daily bases and shifting this terminal to outside the city would create problems for commuters. He said the government generated Rs540 million annually in form of revenue from Badami Bagh Bus Terminal and shifting of terminal would deprive people of their livelihood. He further said the DCO did not consult with them before finalising the decision of shifting the bus terminal.