ISLAMABAD: Residents of the twin cities not only face a shortage of bus stops but the availability of facilities at the stops is a source of major inconvenience for commuters.

The number of toilets available at Pirwadhai, Pak Secretariat, Karachi Company and Faizabad are not sufficient to cater to the needs of the hundreds of passengers who use these stops daily. The toilets are also not maintained properly.

The stops have become the permanent abode of vendors who occupy the space. There are also not enough seats at the bus stops for people to sit.

Muhammad Rauf, a passenger at Faizabad stop, told this agency that his family was travelling from Faisalabad to Taxila with his family and had to wait for half an hour to use a toilet. “Children and women suffer the most because of lack of toilets,” he added.

Passengers, who use public transport, complained about the shortage of dustbins at these stops which is compelling people to toss garbage on the street.

Another commuter, Saeed, said garbage heaps that can be seen at bus stops are an eyesore. Commuters urged concerned authorities to provide facilities at bus stops on priority.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2014