RAWALPINDI: The ticketing staff of metro bus service, while observing a strike over non-payment of their three-month salaries, refused to offer their services by closing ticketing counters on Monday.

No new tickets were issued from morning till evening and only passengers with a monthly card were allowed to board the bus.

The bus service was resumed in the evening after members of the staff were told by the administrations of Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) and a private company - to which the authority had outsourced ticketing - that their dues will be cleared soon.

PMA General Manager (Operation) Uzair Shah told Dawn that PMA had already transferred the amount to the company on Dec 4 and due to bank holidays on Saturday and Sunday, the payment might have gotten delayed.

He said it was the company’s responsibility to pay the salaries to staff, adding the company has been asked to resolve the issue so the service will not be suspended again.

“PMA will take action against the private company for suspension of service and for the revenue loss for the government,” he added.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2020