SKARDU, June 7: The people of Baltistan have expressed concern over the indifferent attitude of the authorities of Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO) in providing services in Baltistan. They said the authorities have provided unserviceable buses in the area which is unfair. Baltistan has an important role in terms of tourism as well as strategic, where well-conditioned busses should be plied as lots of tourists and army men travel from Skardu to Rawalpindi.

Keeping in view this fact, many private transport companies have been offering better travel facilities.

They said that the situation in the two districts of Baltistan is very bad. Old and ramshackle conditioned buses and coaches are being operated here. The present workshop of the NATCO was owned by Skardu Municipal committee and has been given to the corporation on lease.

The rent of the lease was still to be paid to the Municipal Committee. The booking office in the main Skardu city has got on rent which comprised one room. Owing to non- payment of rent regularly the local authorities of the corporation had to change the building of its office three times in a year.

The official and account system of Skardu office are being controlled by the authorities in Gilgit, so that the income amount got by the vehicles run between Skardu-Gilgit and Rawalpindi could be utilized in Gilgit office. Even the employees belonging to Baltistan are not given chances of promotion.

The managing director or other high officials of the corporation have not visited the area for several years, but once when the present MD visited here last week to attend Shigar fort’s inauguration ceremony, he avoided meeting public representatives and media men of Baltistan.

Various public circles from Baltistan have demanded of the force commander Northern Areas and chief secretary of Northern Areas that the affairs of NATCO should be streamlined.