Sindh to resume public transport before or after Eid, says minister

KARACHI: Sindh Transport Minister Syed Awais Qadir Shah has announced resumption of public transport in the province before or after Eid ul Fitr, without giving a specific date, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Provincial transport minister in a statement said that SOPs for public transport have been prepared and medical teams are being constituted for the purpose.

A four-point summary has been prepared and forwarded to the chief minister to provide relief to the transporters in Sindh.

According to sources, the summary recommends withdrawal of 100 percent fine slapped by the transport department on transporters in the province from February this year till June.

The summary also recommends 50 percent relief in Motor Vehicle Inspection Tax and 50 pct relief in route permit fees.

The summary sent to the chief minister also recommends 50 pct relief to transporters in excise duty, sources further said.

The Sindh government put a ban on all kind of public transport services in the third week of March before the lockdown was formally imposed on March 23.

The ride-sharing services operations were also suspended with the imposition of the lockdown, leaving people mostly dependent on private or personal vehicles to move from one place to another.

The government had also banned the intercity bus service to stop movement of people from one city to another.