July 30, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 26, 1429

KARACHI, July 29: Public transport operators, angered over the delay in the release of a government notification for an increase in fares, have decided to raise fares unilaterally from Aug 1 and have also warned the government of an indefinite strike if they are “harassed” for charging increased fares.

The delay in the issuance of a notification is attributed to the absence of the chief minister, whose approval is required for the summary on the increase in transport fares. The chief minister has gone abroad and is expected to return in a few days.

Representatives of the Sindh Bus Owners Association, Sindh AC and non-AC Bus Owners Association, Supreme Council of Pakistan Transporters, UTS Bus Owners Association and Metrobus Owners Association attended the meeting held on Monday.

Talking to Dawn, Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) chief Irshad Hussain Bokhari said that transporters were very much concerned over the delay in the government notification for an increase in fares and they had decided to increase fares by Rs2 and Rs3 for all buses, minibuses and coaches. This raise in fares, he claimed, had already been agreed upon by the government.

“Transporters are continuously accruing losses owing to the recent rise in fuel prices that has forced to halt operation of a large number of vehicles. The minister concerned at a meeting on July 23 had promised that the notification for an increase in transport fares would be issued on 26th, but that didn’t happen. There is still time for the government to address our concerns, else we would have to act unilaterally and raise fares.”

Regarding the action against bus and coach owners already charging increased fares, he said such cases were not many and the transport alliance would talk to the transporters concerned if commuters approached the KTI with complaints.

The provincial secretary for transport, Rasheed Alam, told Dawn that a summary for the notification had already been sent and it would take some time for approval. About the unilateral move of raising fares by transporters and the warning of a strike, he said: “If transporters raise fares without a government notification that will be an illegal act and action will be taken according to the rules.”

He condemned what he called ‘pressure tactics’ of the transporters and said it was unfortunate that they had decided to adopt an extreme position without acknowledging the fact that the department officials were constantly in touch with them and had immediately forwarded a summary for an increase in transport fares with their consultation. “Nowhere in the country transport fares have been raised. Are transporters in the city more affected by the fuel price hike? They must show some patience,” he said, adding that complaints of overcharging should be registered with the regional transport authority.