The closure of CNG stations has forced the transporters to increase inter-city fares by huge margin. A survey conducted by Business Recorder on Monday revealed that the transporters have not increased fares within the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, however, the inter-city fares have gone up due to gas shortage and limited number of vehicles plying on roads between the cities.

The survey noted that taxi and rickshaw drivers have increased fares by almost 100 percent, saying that petrol is two times costlier than CNG. The passengers at bus stands of Pirwadhai, Peshawar Mor, Faizabad and Karachi Company while talking to this correspondent complained that the transporters were over-charging taking undue advantage of the closure of CNG stations. They regretted that the concerned authorities were unable to take action against them. Haji Sultan Awan, President Mothahida Transport Association, confirmed that the transporters had increased inter-city fares, but the intra-city fares remained unchanged.

He said that there was no legislation in place to regulate inter-city fares. Zahir, a passenger standing at Faizabad Bus stand, said that normal fare to Peshawar was Rs 250 per person, but the transporters were asking for Rs 300-350. Fare from Rawalpindi to Lahore has increased from Rs 850 to Rs 1,000-1,050, while to Mardan it has increased from Rs 200 to Rs 300.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012