BAHAWALPUR: A private transport company has threatened to stop the Speedo bus service between Bahawalpur and Lodhran from Oct 1 if the Punjab government fails to pay their dues worth millions of rupees by Sept 30.

The Daewoo Pakistan management has demanded that the Punjab government clear over Rs90 million dues of the bus service plying on Bahawalpur-Lodhran route otherwise, it will stop the operation.

A letter (a copy has been shared with Dawn) by Daewoo Chief Executive Officer Faisal Siddiqui to the provincial transport secretary has pointed out that the company has time and again demanded the outstanding dues and has been assured of payment but no amount has been received.

In case of non-payment of the dues by Sept 30, “we will move the buses back to Lahore on Oct 1 in accordance with the main contract of procurement, operation and maintenance of feeder buses for integrated bus operation in Lahore executed by the Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) of the Punjab government”. He again requested the Punjab transport secretary to clear the payment.

Liaquat Ali Gilani, Assistant Commissioner (General) to the Divisional Commissioner, Bahawalpur, told Dawn that the Punjab government was already making arrangements for the payment of the Speedo bus service’s pending dues of previous years and the service would continue between Bahawalpur and Lodhran.

Twelve Speedo air-conditioned coaches shuttle between Bahawalpur and Lodhran. The service was introduced to provide travelling facilities on concessional fares to a number of students of Lodhran and other areas during Shehbaz Sharif’s government.

The service was stopped during Usman Buzdar’s government and the buses were shifted to Dera Ghazi Khan amid strong protest by the locals. Hamza Shehbaz after becoming the chief minister restored the service and added a fleet of 12 buses.

feared drowned: A shepherd is feared drowned after he fell into a manhole near Panjnad flour mills at Tibba Badar Shair, a slum area of the city.

District Emergency Officer Baqir Hussain told Dawn that according to eyewitnesses, Ata Muhammad, 60, fell into the manhole while taking herd of goats to his destination. He said it was about 20 feet deep and the rescuers thrice attempted to trace the man but to no avail.

He said the operation would continue till finding a clue.

Non-payment of dues

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2022