Transporters have increased the general public transport fares by up to 20 per cent after rising petrol and diesel prices in the country on Friday.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, due to the massive increase in transport fares, the difficulties of passengers travelling from Lahore to other citizens, have increased.
The channel report said that the passengers will now get an Rs1,000 ticket for Rs1,200 as the fares have been increased 20 per cent.
All Pakistan Public Transport Owners Federation (APPTOF) has demanded the government improve the economic situation and reduced petrol and diesel prices as these are not affordable for a common man of the country.
The Federation’s Spokesman MH Jahangir termed the increase in diesel and petrol prices as a cruel act against the masses and transporters.
The channel report said the fare of public transporters from Lahore has been increased from Rs100 to Rs300 per passenger.
The fare of Karachi from Lahore has been increased by Rs3700 to Rs4000, Sadiqabad from Rs1750 to Rs2000, Rawalpindi from Rs1750 to Rs1850, Faisalabad from Rs850 to Rs950, Sargodha from Rs720 to Rs850, Peshawar from Rs2100 to Rs2200, Murree from Rs2100 to Rs2200, Sahiwal from Rs550 to Rs650, Khanewal from Rs1180 to Rs1280, Muzaffargarh from Rs1330 to Rs1430 and Multan from Rs1300 to Rs1400.
The goods transporters have also expressed anger over the increase in petrol and diesel prices and General Secretary of the Karachi Goods Career Association (KGCA) Ghulam Afridi said the government dropped the petrol bomb on people and the business class.
The association secretary said the government should either reduce petrol prices or provide subsidies elsewhere as highly expensive diesel and petrol have increased the cost of transportation in the country.
He predicted that the cost of medicines, food items and raw materials will also increase more.
Reporters: Rao Dilshad, Adia Naz