FAISALABAD, Oct 21: The district presented a deserted look as most of the people belonging to different towns and cities left for their native areas to celebrate Eid.

The government has announced three holidays from Monday to Wednesday for Eid celebrations but the people, including labourers of textile factories and government servants, started leaving the district on Saturday.

Bus and wagon stands were seen crowded with commuters who had to face shortage of seats despite prior reservations. The district government has made no arrangements to check the transporters who were busy in fleecing the people with both hands.

A large number of passengers complained that they had their seats reserved before hand, but they found that their seats were already occupied by other passengers.

On Saturday, government departments and factories witnessed a thin attendance that badly affected the official business. Similar state of affairs will remain on Thursday next as well because most of the people belonging to far-flung areas will try to spend maximum time with their families.

Shehzad Ali of Chowk Azam, present along with his family at the bus stand, said that it had become a custom to fleece the people on such occasions.

Passenger Arif Chaudhry said that transporters were charging double fares from passengers which pointed a question mark on the performance of the district authority.

A district officer said that instructions had been issued to transporters that strict action would be taken against them if they continued fleecing the passengers.

Transporters claimed that they were running buses round-the-clock but still they were finding it hard to manage the rush. They alleged that they were charging extra amount to pay `Eidi’ to the police.