MITHI, Nov 25: The people of Thar have demanded of the Sindh chief secretary and the secretary of the Sindh Road Transport Authority to curb the transporters’ tendency to overcharge and fix rates arbitrarily.

Expressing resentment over exorbitant transportation charges, a number of people, belonging to various villages, told this correspondent that some transporters were charging Rs60 on Mithi- Chhachro and Mithi-Umerkot routes, which were 82km and 85km long respectively.

They said that they were not prepared to pay such high fares on these frequently-travelled routes.

Commuters, they said, paid Rs20 for the 50-km-long Mithi-Naokot journey and the same fare applied to the 44-km-long Mithi-Islamkot route, the 28-km-long Mithi-Chelhar route and the 40-km-long Mithi-Diplo route.

They termed the fare charged on the Mithi-Chhachhro and Mithi-Umerkot routes unjustified and unlawful.

APPEAL: The principal of the higher secondary school, Naokot, has appealed to the authorities of the education department to provide stipends and donate uniforms and books to the poor students of the school.

He also urged non-governmental organizations and philanthropists to provide funds in this regard.

In a press statement, issued here on Monday, the principal, said that the majority of students of his schools, who belong to 10 union councils of the area, belonged to poor families of the Tharparkar district.

He said that their parents were unable to afford even the tuition fee, making it difficult for the students to continue with their studies.