PESHAWAR, Aug 24: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has revised upward the inter-district fares of public transport in the province in the light of increase in prices of petroleum products.

Provincial Transport Authority of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has notified the new fares, asking all secretaries of regional transport authorities (RTAs) to prepare fare lists as soon as possible for the routes falling in their respective jurisdiction in the light of new diesel price of Rs106.19 per litre.

The fare of vans/flying coaches from Peshawar to Mardan has been increased from Rs74 to Rs78, Mingora from Rs230 to Rs242, Charsadda Rs31 to Rs32, Bannu Rs220 to Rs232, Dera Ismail Khan Rs386 to Rs406, Kohat Rs74 to Rs78, Hangu Rs103 to Rs124, and Dir Rs302 to Rs350.

The fare of air-conditioned buses from Peshawar to Mardan has been increased from Rs87 to Rs91, Mingora Rs270 to Rs282, Charsadda Rs36 to Rs38, Bannu Rs259 to Rs270, Dera Ismail Khan Rs453 to Rs473, Kohat Rs87 to Rs91, Hangu Rs139 to Rs145 and Dir Rs337 to Rs352.

The fare of ordinary buses from Peshawar to Mardan was increased from Rs65 to Rs68, Minogra Rs200 to Rs212, Charsadda Rs27 to Rs28, Bannu Rs192 to Rs203, Dera Ismail Khan Rs336 to Rs356, Kohat Rs65 to Rs68 and Dir Rs250 to Rs265.

The revised fares would be applicable with immediate effect, said the PTA’s notification.

Meanwhile, taking notice of growing public complaints about massive overcharging of passengers by transporters, Minister for Transport Mian Iftikhar Hussain has directed officials of the Transport Department and regional transport authorities to take stern action against violators of official fare lists.

He issued this directive while chairing a meeting of Transport Department officials in Peshawar on Friday.

The minister said that transporters found guilty of overcharging would be punished according to law.

He also appealed to the passengers to register their written complaints concerning overcharging with the minister transport, secretary transport, director transport or the RTAs at divisional level.

Mr Hussain said that though the prices of petroleum products had been increased due to hike in oil prices in international market, overcharging would not be tolerated in the presence of official fare lists.

He asked the transporters to follow the formula devised by the Transport Department for increase in fares. He also appealed them to refrain from overcharging by keeping in view problems of the common man.