LAHORE – Inter-city transporters have increased fares by 10 percent while transporters are all set for a wheel jam strike if the federal government does not reverse the increase in fuel prices.
Talking to Pakistan Today, transporters said that the increase in fuel prices is a ‘drone attack’ by the federal government against the public. They said that they would announce a wheel jam strike in Punjab if the prices are not reversed. Urban Bus Owners Association Punjab Chairman Bashir Sial said that there has been no increase in local transport fares, as the Punjab government regulates them.
“The federal government should not increase petroleum prices for its luxuries and give relief to the poor,” Sial said adding that poor people could not afford high transport fares. Urban Transport Owners Association (UTOA) General Secretary Arshad Khan Niazi said that inter-city and goods transporters fares have been increased by around 10 percent.
“We will try our best not to increase fares and are planning to hold protests in all major cities,” he said adding that transporters would force the federal government to reduce fares. Commuters also criticised the increase in petroleum prices and said that the federal government has found an easy way to mint money from the public.
“Everything gets expensive with an increase in petroleum prices and the federal government is well aware of it but even then it does not provide relief to people and increases petroleum prices,” banker Sadeed Athar said adding that now prices of eatables would also skyrocket.
