MANSEHRA: Deputy commissioner Bilal Shahid Rao on Tuesday notified a 50 per cent reduction in transport fares for people with disabilities.

The notification comes in line with an ordinance promulgated in 2018.

A team led by assistant commissioner Ali Imtiaz and comprising district social welfare officer Sabir Shah, chairman of the Right to Live organisation Mohammad Bilal and traffic inspector Mohammad Sadaqat visited the central bus terminal here and directed the drivers of coaches and buses to halve fares for PWDs and warned if that didn’t happen, then they would be dealt with strictly.

The transport drivers and leaders of transporters promised compliance with the orders in a meeting with visitors.

Mr Imtiaz said the decision to cut fares for special persons was made in the monthly meeting of the Grievances Redressal Committee for PWDs that was formed on the orders of the Supreme Court.

Official warns transporters of action over non-compliance

He said the team also hung up banners and pasted posters of fare cut for PWDs at bus terminals.

Committee member Bilal said the panel was led by the deputy commissioner and had the district social welfare officer and district education officers (male) and (female) as members.

KILLED: A man was run over and killed by a speedy truck here on Tuesday.

Ashfaq Shah, an employee of the Baffa-Pakhal tehsil municipal administration, had the fatal accident while crossing the Karakoram Highway near Commerce College here.

The Rescue 1122 workers shifted him to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in critical condition but the doctors declared him dead.

Meanwhile, the traffic police began a crackdown on underage drivers in Mansehra city and its suburbs.

They said over a dozen underage bikers and motorists were fined and warned against driving again.

Meanwhile, former MPA Sajadullah Khan on Tuesday urged youths to help “righteous” people become members of the national and provincial assembly in the upcoming elections.

“Unfortunately, people here ‘select’ candidates for assembly members before their election. Such outdated practice should come to an end now to ensure the real development of the people,” Mr Khan told the concluding ceremony for a sports gala in Bankhad area of Upper Kohistan district.

The event was attended by youths of Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts in large numbers.

Mr Khan, who wants to contest election in the provincial assembly constituency PK-32, said as MPA, he would serve people of Kohistan just like his father and former MNA, Maulana Abdul Baki.

He said local youths should be provided with adequate opportunities to exhibit their sporting talents and skills.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2023