KARACHI, Dec 4: The government’s failure to persuade the transporters to reduce public transport fares proportionate to the substantial cut in the prices of petroleum, oil and lubricants has shocked the people.

There has been a 24 per cent cut in POL prices in the past two months, but transport fares have been reduced by hardly 13 per cent. The transporters remained adamant and did not reduce fares after three substantial cuts in POL prices were announced. It was only after the fourth cut, announced a few days ago, that they reluctantly effected a nominal reduction in fares. However, whenever POL prices are increased, they increase fares without any delay. This action of theirs enjoy the full backing of the government.

So the real beneficiaries of the substantial cuts in oil prices have been the transporters and those who have their own cars and other luxury vehicles. The common man has not benefited from the decrease in oil prices.

The nominal reduction in transport fares in Karachi and in the province has established beyond doubt the existence of a strong nexus between the transporters and the bureaucracy which has always worked for the interests of the transporters.

Commuters have described the paltry 13 per cent cut in fares as a mere eyewash.

They said that government had always pursued policies which benefited the transporters.

Expressing their indignation over the attitude of transporters, they said in the past two months the transporters had earned millions of rupees by the reduction in oil prices.

However, no reduction in fares of rickshaws and taxis has taken place which reflects the indifferent attitude of the government to the people’s problems.—PPI