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KARACHI, Jan. 21: In view of the upward revision of petroleum prices by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee, the Sindh Transport Department has restored the enhanced fares of public transport on urban and inter-city routes notified on Nov 14, 2000. The decision will be applicable from Jan 23.
The decision was taken here Monday at a meeting presided over by provincial minister for transport, labour, industries and local government Dewan Muhammad Yousuf Farooqui.
The meeting was attended also by secretary and deputy secretary of transport & labour department and Executive District Officer Transport, City Government Karachi.
An official announcement in this respect said that the revision of petroleum prices by the Advisory Committee on Jan 1 and 15, 2002 has resulted into accumulative increase of Rs 2.29 per litter and keeping in view the decision of the meeting with the transporters held on Dec 1, 2001, the fares notified on Nov 14, 2000 have been restored.
The fares are: Buses: up to 5 kilometres Rs3.50, up to 10 km Rs5, up to 15 km Rs5.50, up to 20 km (proposed new stage) Rs 6, up to 25 km (proposed new stage) Rs6, above 30 km (proposed new stage) Rs6 and students’ discount 50 percent of normal fare.
Mini-buses: Up to 5 km Rs4.50, up to 10 km Rs5.50, up to 15 km Rs6.50, up to 20 kms (proposed new stage) Rs 6.50, up to 25 kms (proposed new stage) Rs6.50, above 30 kms (proposed new stage) Rs6.50.
COACHES: up to 10 kms Rs8, above 10 kms Rs9.
Inter-City Routes: Metalled Road; Buses (50 and above seats): Paisa 33 per km.
Katcha Road: Buses (50 and above seats): Paisa 35 per km;
Air-conditioned Coaches: Paisa 66 per kms;
Mini-buses: (26-29 seats) Metalled : Paisa 33 per km;
Mini-buses: (13-18 seats) Metalled: Paisa 33 per km and stage-cum-public carrier (desert): Paisa 49 per km.
Addressing the meeting, the minister said such an arrangement had been made to reduce or increase the fares with the reduction or increase of petroleum prices by Rs2. The transporters have also agreed to this formula.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Transport Federation leaders, representing at least 19 associations and unions of transport workers and owners, has called off a wheeljam strike planned for Jan 23 after their meeting with the Naib Nazim,
City District Government, Karachi, Tariq Hassan, here on Monday.
A delegation of the KTF called on the Naib Nazim and apprised him of the problems being faced by transporters, including increase in fare, arrest of drivers under section 279, dilapidated condition of roads, non-payment of compensation to transporters for vehicles impounded for election duties in July last and other related problems.
The other associations whose leaders called on Tariq Hasan included Karachi Transport Owners Federation (Sindh), Karachi Transport Workers Union, Karachi Mini-bus and Coaches Owners Association, All-Karachi Rickshaw, Taxi, Yellow Cab Federation and Private Bus-Owners Association.—PPI/APP
