09 March 2005	Wednesday	27 Muharram 1426

LAHORE, March 8: The Pakistan Motor Transport Federation on Tuesday withdrew its notice for a province-wide strike on March 10 after the provincial transport department agreed to increase fares by four paisas per kilometre after inviting public objections till March 18.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting between the transport secretary and the federation delegation, led by vice-president Haji Naseer Ahmed Butt, at the Transport House here.

The department proposed to increase the per kilometre inter-city bus fare from 37 to 41 paisas on metalled roads, from 38 to 42 paisas on 'katcha roads' and from 39 to 43 paisas in hilly areas.

The department proposed to raise the minimum bus, wagon and minibus fare on urban routes from Rs4 to Rs5 and increase of maximum fare from Rs10 to Rs12 with a Re1 increase at every stage. Minimum wagon fare is proposed to be increased from Rs4 to Rs5 and maximum from Rs8 to Rs9 with an increase of Re1 at every stage.

The PMTF had served a strike notice on the government for raising fares after an increase of Rs4.19 per litre in diesel price in five price revisions since May 1 last year.

The provincial government had only been promising to raise fares after every increase in diesel price. It had promised to raise fares by four paisas per kilometre after the Eidul Azha but did not honour its commitment.

POL PRICE: The JUP, one of six components of the MMA, held a demonstration against rapid increase in prices of petrol and eatables outside the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday.

The demonstrators were carrying portraits of the late Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, the former party chief, and placards inscribed with slogans. Some of those read: "No to price-hike, withdraw raise in petrol prices, let the poor live, and slash perks of ministers/officers for giving relief to the poor."

Speaking to protesters, Malik Bashir Nizami, Qari Abdur Rehman Noorani and others lamented that rapid increase in POL prices was causing an unprecedented price hike. They said lawlessness was going from bad to worse as incidents of theft and robbery had become the order of the day. The government instead of protecting lives and properties of masses and providing them any relief is multiplying their problems, they added.

They also criticized PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain for making false promises with the nation about cut in petrol prices and demanded that the recent raise be immediately withdrawn.