November 8, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 2,1423

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SWABI, Nov 7: Transporters have increased the fares on all routes without permission from the district government or administration, citing the unabated increase in prices of petroleum products.

Flying coaches transporters plying their vehicles on Swabi to Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Jehangira and Mardan routes have increased the fares.

Commuters said on Thursday that the transporters had told them that they had to pay Rs37 instead of the previous fare of Rs32 from Swabi to Peshawar.

The transporters justified the increase in view of the manifold increase in petroleum prices.

The commuters complained that they were not shown any revised fare list.

They said the fare from Swabi to Jehangira had been increased form Rs10 to Rs15 and Jehangira to Peshawar from Rs20 to Rs25. The fares of other routes were also increased.

Reports from other areas said the transporters and passengers clashed over the fare increase.

The commuters said the provincial transport authority or the local administration had not issued any new fare list.

The transporters, when contacted, said they would observe an indefinite wheel-jam strike if they were not allowed to raise the fares.