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SIALKOT, July 4: Following the recent increase in the POL prices, the transporters in the district have arbitrarily raised the fares to at least 25 per cent on all routes, causing problems for the commuters. Reports said the transporters were charging Rs90 per passenger instead of Rs60 as fare from Sialkot to Lahore, Rs55 instead of Rs35 to Rs40 for Narowal, Rs18 instead of Rs15 for Daska, Rs40 instead Rs30 for Gujranwala, etc.
As most of the commuters protest against this raise, the conductors try to forcibly charge these inflated fares, which often results in untoward incidents. The situation becomes more disturbing when women passengers, who refuse to pay extra amount, are humiliated by conductors.
Some of the affected commuters alleged that the District Regional Transport Authority (RTA) had miserably failed to check the charging of inflated fares.
They urged the provincial and district governments to take notice of the situation and order steps to provide relief to the people.
On the other hand, the transporters claim that the raise is justified as the recent hike in the POL prices has forced them to increase the fares.
The district RTA officials say that the transporters have raised the fares illegally, as the provincial and district governments have not approved the raise.
NO SCHOOL: After a lapse of almost two years, the district government could not start the construction of new building of Government Girls Primary School Bheello Mahaar, Daska.
Reports said Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had announced upgradation of this school to middle level on July 16, 2003 for providing educational facilities to girls of surrounding villages. The villagers had donated one acre agricultural land for the construction of a new building and utililized Rs0.3 million for raising the ground level of the land.
The departments concerned had also issued tenders which were later cancelled owing to some unknown reasons. Now, two years have elapsed and the chief minister’s order has not been implemented.
Expressing their grave concern over the inordinate delay, the local people told the press that the Bheello Mahaar was the main town in the area on Daska-Motra-Sialkot Road and there was not even a single middle school for girls. They said that girls had to go to far-flung areas for getting education.
The people have urged the Punjab chief minister to look into the matter.
