KARACHI, Oct 28: The Provincial Transport Minister, Adil Siddiqui, on Thursday gave one-month time to transporters directing them to modify the condition of their vehicles as per fitness certificates.

He particularly said that minibuses should be brought back into the government prescribed white and yellow colour scheme.

Chairing a meeting, the provincial transport minister took serious notice of the deteriorating condition of public transport and said that not only was he receiving public complaints about it, but newspapers too were publishing reports about their bad condition.

He said that he had himself observed that most public transport vehicles did not fulfil fitness requirements, and trends like smoke emission, use of shining strips, use of pressure horns, recording, overspeeding, overloading and males using the ladies compartments was on increase.

The provincial transport minister pointed out that the use of sharp bright strips on wind screens was leading to serious accidents.

The representative of the Regional Transport Authority informed the minister that a colour scheme had been devised for minibuses in 1972, approving white colour for roofs and yellow for the body.

He said the 26-seat coaches were inducted under the Prime Minister scheme, and now a colour scheme was being decided on the Minister’s order for them so that uniformity could be brought in the public transport and so that people

could identify them from a distance.

Mr Siddiqui asked the owners of minibuses to bring back their vehicles into their white and yellow colours or face action in case of defiance.

He said legal action would also be taken against vehicles not meeting fitness requirements.

He directed that from Dec 1, vehicles not meeting fitness requirements and not having the prescribed colour scheme should be confiscated and legal action taken directly against their owners.

He asked the owners to teach courtesy and good behaviour to their drivers and conductors.

The minister said that better cooperation from transporters could greatly help in overcoming the transport problems, which would reduce inconvenience to people and improve commuting facilities.—APP