LAHORE, Aug 18: The Punjab Transport Department on Thursday proposed a two paisa per kilometre increase in fares of buses and wagons on inter-city and Re1 per stage increase on urban routes in view of the increase in diesel price and operational expenses and invited public objections against it within four days.

A notification said the department had held a number of meetings with the Pakistan Motor Transport Federation and other organizations of transporters and proposed an increase in public transport fare on metalled, katcha and mountainous areas’ roads from paisas 41, 42 and 43 per kilometre to paisas 43, 44 and 45 per kilometre, respectively.

An increase of Re1 per stage was proposed in public transport fares on intermediary stages on urban routes but minimum and maximum fares of Rs5 for the first stage and Rs12 for the entire route will remain unchanged.

DEMO: The Paigham Union staged a demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club on Thursday against the withdrawal of an interim relief of Rs400 from the salaries of Wapda employees.

Speaking on the occasion, union vice-president Ehsan Ahmad Chaudhry said there was no justification for the withdrawal of the relief because the increase announced in salaries was far less than the increase in the cost of living.

Wapda employees in rural areas had also been denied increase in house rent and medical allowance without any justification.

He said Wapda should not only restore the interim relief but also increase the house rent and medical allowance of the rural areas employees.