Karachi transporters continue to fleece commuters

Public transporters of Karachi, who are running their minibuses and so-called 'coaches' on cheap CNG gas are charging bus fares from the commuters on the basis of diesel usage, which is not only an immoral act but a plain cheating; however, the Sindh transport department, and concerned departments in the City District Government Karachi have opted to look the other way.
It is said that about 95 percent of minibuses and coaches running on inter-city routes are converted to cheap CNG. This conversion to cheaper fuel heavily cuts operational costs of the public transporters, but they are not passing this benefit to commuters and charge bus fares on rates calculated on the basis of usage of diesel. The conning practice is also continuing in the holy month of Ramazan, but the government has opted not to intervene and allow this broad daylight exploitation of commuters. The political parties and consumer rights bodies are also tight lipped on this malpractice.
The bureaucracy in Karachi has always given freehand to private transporters to loot Karachiites.
Decades back when so-called 'coaches' were introduced in Karachi, the government had allowed them to charge more fare as compared with the fare of ordinary minibuses on the pretext that these coaches would run only on seat-by-seat basis and allow no commuter to board if vacant seat not available.
However, these coaches from the day one are not only allowing commuters to travel by standing in these minibuses but also communing while sitting on their rooftops. The owners of these 'coaches' have minted billions of rupees by hoodwinking Karachi commuters in connivance with the corrupt bureaucracy and ruling political parties, who get regular Bhatta in return of these favours.
Karachi is the only mega urban city, where there is no proper colour for public transport vehicles, where commuters are not issued tickets of their bus fare, where there is not engine fitness rule in practice and where old and discarded buses from whole country are brought and allowed to further pollute already murky air of the city, where minibuses actually ply on the terms and conditions set by the private owners, who citizens say work like a mafia.
Karachi commuters demand immediate reduction of bus fare, considering in mind usage of cheap CNG by the private transporters instead of diesel. They also demand ending the special status of 'coaches' and treat them like ordinary minibuses by allotting them a 'bus route number' and keeping their fare equal with ordinary minibus fare. They say all public transport vehicles be buses and minibuses should be painted in one colour, like red buses of London and compel their drivers and conductors to wear proper uniform and issue ticket to passengers after charging bus fare.
Moreover, they demand cancelling route permits of all old, shabby and smoke emitting public transport vehicles and ensure no commuter travels while sitting on rooftops of minibuses. And to end the brutal monopoly of road-based private transporters the vital projects of Karachi Circular Railway should be revived on fast track basis, besides mass transit system.