Surge in POL prices: transporters announce 10 percent raise in fares

Thousands of the daily commuters have been directly hit hard by the unbridled transporters falling beyond the control of the authorities concerned, since the private bus and wagon owners have announced 10 per cent increase in fares across the country on Saturday after steep rise in the petroleum prices.
An announcement in this regard was made by various transporters organisations at a meeting held here. It was unanimously decided that the increase in fares was applied from Sunday (today). Whereas the transport authorities concerned were not consulted regarding the decision.
The transporters described that the increase in fares was because of the increase in prices of the petroleum products, and maintained that if the government withdrew its decision, the transporters would also decrease the fares. On the other hand, the fares of private transport plying on intra-city routes had been already increased by 10 per cent on Sunday immediately after the government announced the hike. This caught the passengers unawares, and quite a few incidents of verbal wars and heated arguments between passengers, and bus and wagon conductors, while the latter were bent upon over-charging despite the fact that the provincial transport authority had not allowed any increase in fares.
The commuters were of the view that over-charging was being made immediately by the transport owners when the government announced rise, while contrary to this no one took the pain to decrease fares when the prices of the petroleum products were decreased. The transporters contradicted the argument by asserting that they were already facing loses due to availability of spare parts at high rates, and over-burdened by government taxes, and undue challans. They maintained that the recent rise in diesel oil prices by 5.43 percent compelled them to take the decision.
While talking to newsmen Chairman All Pakistan Transport Owner's Federation Multan Chapter Shahbaz Khan and General Secretary Abid Thaheem said the government should immediately take back the decision of rise in petroleum. He said they were compelled to increase the fare routes by 10 percent due to the government' decision of increasing petroleum prices.
Meanwhile, citizens condemned the decision and said the government had totally failed in controlling the inflation in all sectors. They said the recent increases in petroleum products and fares were the gift of the democratic government for the masses, who were already being grilled under the burden of inflated utility and commodity bills.
"First the dealers dump petrol products and later the transporters announce rise moments after the government notifies the increase in the POL prices," commented Rana Sher Afgan a transporter. He said there were none but the poor and middle class people who were being victimised by the government. Meanwhile, the government authorities were mum over the transporters' decisions. None from the government side was available to comment on the situation.