Public transporters jack up fares in Karachi

KARACHI: In a jolt to citizens, public transporters on Friday hiked up fares upto Rs 10 after government’s announcement of increasing CNG’s price.

Fare of Mini buses has been increased by Rs 10, whereas maximum fare of large buses has been fixed up to Rs 25.

This is not all, but Qingi rickshaw fare, a widely-used mode of transport for citizens, has also been increased  by the drivers at their own on pretext of CNG price hike.

On the other hand, Sindh’s transport department has made it clear that fares have not been revised, neither notified by the department, transporters are charging excessive fares on their own.

Passengers commuting in public transport have complained that they are being charged excessively without any notification by the department concerned.

Meanwhile, transporters have said that they are unable to run their business on the old fares due to recent hike in CNG price.

Couple of years ago, a public transporter was arrested for overcharging passengers in Faisalabad.

Then secretary Regional Transport Authority (RTA) had launched a crackdown against public transporters who were overcharging their customers. RTA official had fined seven vehicles while three vehicles were also seized.

The general public had also filed their complaints to the RTA Secretary against overcharging by the public transporters. However, no such mechanism exist in the province for public to lodge their complaint against transporters.