LAHORE: As the people continue protesting against massive hike in the electricity and petroleum products’ prices, they have also expressed anger over increase in the fares of public transport, including rail network.

They have urged the government to at least direct Pakistan Railways to withdraw increase in the fares made twice during the last 20 days or so.

“The continuous raise in the electricity tariff and petroleum products’ prices has already crushed people especially those belonging to poor or lower middle class. Due to hike in POL prices, the transporters have also raised fares on all inter-city and intra-city routes up to 20 per cent, making it difficult for the masses to travel, even in emergency,” complains Shahid, a resident of Yatim Khana, while talking to Dawn.

“A couple of days back, I travelled to Islamabad by bus. But the fare I paid was 20pc more than the previous one,” he said.

According to Ismaeel, a resident of Garhi Shahu, the fares of all express trains have also been increased twice in the last 20 days or so on almost all routes. “A couple of days ago I travelled to Faisalabad from Lahore. The fare charged was 15pc more than the previous one,” he said, adding that the situation seems forcing the people to stay on roads and keep protesting.

“But I think no one is taking up such crucial issues despite the protests being staged by the people on a daily basis,” he added.

On the other hand, the fares increased by the transport owners have worried the people. They reportedly increased fare from Lahore to Karachi from Rs5,800 to Rs6,100, Rawalpindi from Rs1,600 to Rs2,000, Quetta from Rs4,000 to Rs4,400, Murree from Rs2,100 to 2,400 and Peshawar from Rs2,200 to Rs2,500.

“The continuous hike in POL prices is leaving us with no option but to increase the fares,” commented a transporter owner.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Railways too increased fares twice during the last 20 days. On Aug 16, it increased fares of all express and local passenger trains and freight trains by 10pc and 5pc, respectively.

Similarly on Sept 1, the PR again increased fares by 5pc for all passenger and goods’ trains.

RECORD: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has started sifting of entire record related to all zones of town planning department, according to a spokesman.

The participants in the meeting presided over by commissioner/LDA DG Muhammad Ali Randhawa were told that various plans relating to sifting of record of LDA-managed housing schemes were also being finalised.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2023