No respite for public despite fuel price cut

Rawalpindi: Government reduced POL prices by Rs33 per litre in two months from Rs282 to 249 but unfortunately its impact has not trickled down to the grassroots level, as the general public is still buying daily use commodities at higher rates. The district administration, Rawalpindi was not bothering public related issues result a common man was feeling an uncertain situation for over three years.

Unfortunately, the federal and Punjab governments only focused on baseless issues rather public related issues. The long route and local transporters not reduced fares even a single rupee and looting passengers as per routine. The local transporters as per routine were charging Rs40 stop-to-stop and there was not limit for last stop. On the other hand, District Regional Transport Authority (DRTA) has claimed to cut down fares by Rs10 stop-to-stop and Rs20 for last stop.

The DRTA Secretary, Rashid Ali told ‘The News’ that I have issued a new fare list to local transporters. After reduction of POL prices, we have fixed stop-to-stop fare Rs30 and cut down fares by Rs20 for last stop. I have also directed long route transporters to reduce fares, he claimed. “My staff was continuously impounding Private Service Vehicles (PSVs) they were taking extra fares,” he warned. The Commissioner Rawalpindi Engineer Aamir Khattak has warned all government officers to work practically to provide maximum relief of public. He has directed all price control magistrates to visit open market shops on daily basis to control ‘Man Made’ inflation.