May 01, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 24, 1429

PESHAWAR, April 30: As further rise is expected in prices of petroleum products, owners of filling stations in different parts of the province have stopped selling fuel, forcing transporters not to ply buses on many inter-city routes on Wednesday.

Sarhad Public Transport Legal Action Committee president Mr Ihsanullah told Dawn most of petrol pumps remained closed and some sold fuel only to their permanent clients.

He said most of transporters had cancelled their schedules and stopped issuing tickets to passengers because they could not run buses due to non-availability of diesel. He said that of 18 vehicles, only seven could left for Dera Ismail Khan in the morning and two of them had to return halfway because they could not get diesel on the route.

The supply of petroleum products, he said, was stopped at about 10am, which caused hardships for people.

About raise in fare, he said a decision in this regard would be taken after the announcement of increase in the diesel price.