MINGORA: The local transporters have demanded of the government announce relief package for them and devise standard operating procedure for them to ply vehicles on the road.

They said that they faced acute financial problems owing to the continuous lockdown imposed after the coronavirus outbreak. They said that they cooperated with the government and kept their vehicles off the road since March 25 but the government ignored them completely and did not announce any relief package for them.

They said that the bus stand in Mingora was one of the biggest stands in Malakand division from where hundreds of public vehicles took passengers to Mardan, Peshawar, Abbotabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and other parts of the country on daily basis.

“Daily more than 100 coasters, over 200 vans, about 50 buses and over 200 taxicabs would go to Mardan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Thousands of families are connected with public transport,” said Anwar Ali, a clerk at Mingora general bus stand.

Ask govt to devise SOPs for resumption of their business

He said that he would earn Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 daily but became jobless after the bus stand was closed due to lockdown.

Mohammad Ali, a driver, said that he would earn Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 daily and was happy with that as it was sufficient to buy daily use items for his family. “Presently, I do not have a single penny and do not know what to do. I have already borrowed from friends,” he added.

Akbar Ali, another driver, said that government initiated Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme but majority of the drivers and conductors were declared ineligible for it.

“We do not know what is criterion of eligibility for the Rs12,000 Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme because majority of the drivers and conductors are ineligible for it. The government must initiate a relief package for us so that we can get rid of this daily torment,” he said.

Apart from vehicle owners and drivers many other people also dependent upon public transport for their income. “A large number of people from poor communities including conductors, vendors and cleaners are also connected with the public transport. All of them face problems owing to closure of public transport,” said Abdullah, a conductor.

The transporters demanded of the government to devise SOPs for the public transport and allow its operation. “The government allowed every business but only public transport is closed so we demand of the government to allow us with proper SOPs,” said Ishtiaq Ahamd, another driver.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2020