KARACHI: Transporters agree to abandon token system
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 7: Two major groups of transport operators have reached a consensus on doing away with the notorious ‘time token system’ widely regarded as one of the key factors behind recklessness by drivers of public transport.
The decision to abolish the system was announced at a press conference, held in the committee room of Sindh Assembly building on Friday, jointly by the Minister for Transport, Adil Siddiqui, and the chief of the Karachi Transport Ittehad, Irshad Bokhari.
Secretary Transport Raja Mohammad Abbas, DG of Karachi Mass Transit Programme Malik Zaheerul Islam, DIG Traffic Saud Ahmed, officials of police and army and representatives of transport operators were present at the press conference.
Saleem Khan Bangash, chief of the other group, National Transport Ittehad, met the minister separately to avoid his presence at the press conference held by the rival organization. Members of his groups also accompanied Mr Bangash who assured the minister to do away with the token system.
Until now, both the groups were adamant to follow the city government’s repeated request in this regard. Referring to the Transport Minister’s advise, they said now that they were going to abandon the system in the greater interest of the citizens of the metropolis.
They said they were ready to play their due role in ensuring road safety and contain accident rate by contributing to the government’s measures to improve the overall transport system.
Irshad Bokhari said that the motive for the decision was not to oblige the minister or the army. But, he added, “it has been taken in the greater interest of the citizens.”
Saleem Bangash raised the issue of excesses by the traffic police against drivers terming their practice ‘injustice’. He contended that action should be taken only against errant drivers.
Adil Siddiqui said that the government was taking various steps to improve the transport system. “We have held talks with the representatives of transporters’ organizations and they have assured us of their cooperation, which would definitely be helpful in the efforts to uplift the transport system.”
Welcoming the two groups’ voluntary move before any arbitrary action by the government, the minister acknowledged that they had assured held out assurance on the removal of pressure horns and tape recorders from the commercial vehicles.
He said joint monitoring teams, comprising representatives of the government and transporters, would keep a vigilant eye on token system to ensure that no transport operator practised it. The transporters themselves advised the government to take action against the violators.
The minister recounted big CNG buses, revival of Karachi Mass Transit Programme, revitalization of Karachi Circular Railway, introduction of sea transportation, setting up of speedy-trial traffic courts and elimination of old minibuses, buses and coaches as the government’s priorities. Besides, he said, the government intended to bring the whole transport system into the orbit of law.
Irshad Bokhari urged the minister to take up the matter of the Oil Companies Advisory Committee with the federal government. He pointed out that fluctuation in petroleum prices every 15 days was undermining transport business. He said that transporters did not seek hike in fares but always demanded reduction in petroleum prices.
Mr Siddiqui assured the transporters that an amicable solution to the problem would be worked out.
Malik Khalid Awan of the KTI expressed the hope that as a result of the abandoning of token system, accident rate would come down. He pointed out that the bribery in the traffic police was also a big factor in the disorder and mismanagement of transport.
