RAWALPINDI: Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema on Thursday announced 5 percent cut in inter-city public transport fares after decrease in petroleum prices.

The decision was made at a meeting of transporters and bus stand owners held under the chairmanship of secretary Regional Transport Authority.

During the meeting, after the decrease in petroleum prices, reduction infares and cleaning of the bus stand were reviewed. The deputy commissioner said that after the decrease in petroleum prices, the fares have been reduced by 5 percent on all routes from Rawalpindi to other cities.

He directed the Secretary Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to display the list offers at prominent places at all bus stands, form a special squad to check whether the fares fixed by the government on was being charged or not on a daily basis.

He said that banners and posters highlighting new fares should be displayed at bus stands. He said that a cell should be established in the office of secretary RTA to where citizens can register their complaints about overcharging by transporters.

He said that after the decrease in petroleum prices, people have to get benefit directly. He further said that special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the bus stand.

Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Rashid Ali told Dawn that the provincial government issued the notification and it had been handed over to the transporters. He said that the RTA would take action against those transporters who failed to implement the fares.

In response to a query, he said that the petroleum prices reduced four consecutive times in last two months and total reduction is recorded as five percent so, the government asked to reduce the fare by five percent.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2024