BAJAUR: Transporters here on Sunday staged a protest demonstration against local authorities’ recent reduction in fares on intra-district routes, alleging the cut was not in line with the decrease in petroleum prices.
The protest held a day after the district administration issued new fare lists for both intra-district and inter-district routes took place along the Bajaur Sports Complex on the main Khar-Nawagai Road.
The administration had announced the fare cuts on Saturday following the federal government’s significant reduction in petroleum product prices.
Scores of transporters and drivers of public vehicles operating on various intra-district routes participated.
Hold protest, urge admin to revise decision
The demonstrators, who chanted slogans against the fresh fare cuts on multiple local routes, alleged the reduction in fares was far higher than the cut in petroleum prices announced by the federal government on Friday.
“We are not against a reduction in fares, but we are against the manner and criteria by which the authorities reduced fares on all routes across the district,” they said.
Protest leaders stated that the fare cut was disproportionate to the decrease in petroleum prices and that the authorities had ignored transporters while finalising the new official fare list.
Calling the new fare list “totally unjustified and not proportionate to the ratio of the petroleum price cut,” the leaders noted that the move would adversely affect vehicle owners and drivers.
“This significant cut in fares for multiple local routes will badly affect us, as fares on many routes have been reduced by up to 50 percent in the official list issued by the district administration,” they observed.
The transporters ended their demonstration after a team of district administration officials approached them and pledged to review the fare list following a meeting scheduled for Monday.
Earlier on Saturday, according to a statement from the deputy commissioner’s office, the administration revised official fares on all intra-district and inter-district routes to pass on the benefit of lower petroleum prices to the public.
The statement did not specify the percentage or amount of reduction.
RESIDENTS DEMAND REDUCTION IN FARES: Despite a recent significant reduction in petroleum prices in Pakistan, public transport fares on key routes from Charsadda to nearby cities such as Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Tangi, and Rawalpindi have remained unchanged, causing widespread concern among commuters. Residents, including students, daily wage earners, office workers, and traders, are urging authorities to ensure that lower fuel costs are reflected in reduced transport fares.
According to commuters, petrol prices have dropped by about Rs74 per litre and diesel by around Rs67 per litre in recent months. However, transport operators have not revised fares accordingly, unlike their quick response when fuel prices increase. This has led to frustration, particularly among those who rely on daily travel for work and education.
Passengers argue that transportation costs remain high despite official reductions in fuel prices, placing an additional burden on already strained household budgets. Students, in particular, say a large portion of their monthly expenses goes toward commuting between Charsadda and educational institutions in Peshawar and Mardan.
Citizens have also urged the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and district administration to conduct a comprehensive review of fare structures and issue revised notifications where necessary. They say transport operators should be required to display officially approved fare lists prominently at bus terminals and inside vehicles.
Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2026