Transporters in Punjab have refused to resume inter-city bus services on the government’s instructions regarding a 20 per cent reduction in fare prices along with the passenger limit imposed by the government.
Despite Punjab government’s instructions to resume public transport services in the province from Monday (today), transporters have refused to restore public transport operations citing that the government’s instructions regarding limiting the passenger capacity by 50 per cent along with a 20 per cent reduction in fares presents an extremely impractical and unfeasible situation for the transporters.
Expressing concerns over government instructions and policies regarding public transport Ismatullah Niazi– Chairman All Pakistan Public Transport Association (APPTA) stated, “We are ready to reduce the fares but the government should negotiate with us and formulate new SOPS and have also asked the government to provide relief to the sector.”
There’s a 20 per cent cut in fares and now 50 per cent fewer customers. We have to pay toll taxes, traffic challans from the motorway police, bus stand charges, and various other expenses as well. We cannot run public transport operations with 90 per cent deficit,” he added.
The development comes as Punjab government has instructed air-conditioned bus services to reduce fare prices by 20 per cent, whereas non-air-conditioned buses have been directed to charge 78 paisas per kilometre as opposed to the previous 93 paisas per kilometre.
Earlier, public transporters in Sindh have threatened to unilaterally resume bus services in the province after May 20 even without the government’s approval.
It is to be noted that public transport has been suspended throughout the country since March and is facing a severe economic crisis due to prolonged closure.
