Transport owners continue to fleece commuters

Rawalpindi All bus and wagon terminals including railway station on Friday remained jam packed with passengers who were leaving for their native towns to celebrate Eidul Fitr with their families. The passengers were seen running from one bus stand to the other in search of tickets, while powerful transporters taking full advantage of the situation were demanding double fares from them.

Huge rush of passengers could be witnessed at all bus terminals and also at Rawalpindi Railway Station here on Friday.

On the other hand, as per ugly practices long route transporters were openly looting helpless passengers by charging Rs100 to Rs200 extra on a ticket apart from charges of luggage, thanks to the apathy of the government officials who were watching the whole drama with closed eyes. Some transporters at Pirwadhai Bus Terminal, Faizabad Bus Terminal, Rawat Bus Terminal, Humrahi Wagon Terminal and Soan Bus/Wagon Terminal were demanding double fares from poor passengers.

The official Eid holidays will begin on Monday (June 26) but most of the non-locals have already left for their hometowns on Friday as there are off days on Saturday and Sunday in federal capital, while the remaining would likely go till ‘Chand Raat’.

Similarly, a large number of passengers could be witnessed at Rawalpindi Railway Station waiting for trains. Majority of passengers have already booked their seats but others are facing difficulties in hunt of seats. The Karachi Company Bus Terminal also remained jam packed on Friday.

The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Khalid Yameen Satti told ‘The News’ that they have cancelled Eid holidays of their checking staff. “We are trying to control the phenomenon of overcharging ahead of Eid. He advised passengers to note numbers of buses and wagons who are overcharging. “Passengers should inform us and we will take strict action against transporters,” he claimed. He said that they have formed four special checking teams which are working day and night to stop overcharging. 

Talking to ‘The News’ passengers belonging to different walks of life said that as per routine they were facing difficulties in approaching their native towns this Eid as well.

Riaz Ahmed Qureshi, going to Sahiwal said he always preferred to travel home with his family on train because road transport was unpredictable. He complained that private transporters overcharge and misbehave with people on Eid and other festivals. He has appreciated railway management to boost up its standard.

Zamurrad Gondal, who was going to Booraywala said that they were happy for going to their native homes but transporters were looting them with both hands on this special occasion. The concerned authorities should take up this issue to provide maximum relief of public, he added.

Arif Baloch, a passenger going to Lahore said the booking staff of the bus terminal had no seat available. “Their staff purchased the tickets under fake names and sold them to commuters on inflated rates,” he alleged. He also said that transporter’s management should look into the matter otherwise people will face more and more difficulties in coming days on Saturday and Sunday.

Naila Rashid, a lady passenger with her family said that they were going to Faisalabad to celebrate Eid with their loved ones but transporters were looting them with both hands. “We have tickets in our hands, but there was no bus or wagon here at Pirwadhai Bus Terminal. The transporter mafia is neither retuning our money nor arranging buses for us and we have been left waiting here for almost three hours, she complained.

Our Correspondent adds: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will hold a summer camp here next month for children between 6 to 19 years to learn French language through games, paintings, cooking, singing and other healthy activities, says a press release.

Applications have been invited from the children for their registration. Last date for this purpose is July 14 while classes will be started on 17th July. Admission forms are available from the Department of French at the University’s main campus, Islamabad. Registration fee is Rs5,000, however there would be 50% fee concession for the children of University’s employees. 

This will enable children to learn basics of French language, as well as to have some entertainments. Recently, the AIOU has focused on promoting cultural and social activities, providing positive and healthy environment to the students.

During the current month, AIOU’s forty-four regional offices across the country have completed first-phase of Qirat, Naat, calligraphy, speeches and postal completions among the local students.

In the second phase, the competitions will be held at seven regional headquarters, Lahore, Multan, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Gilgit and Islamabad. Later, there will be final contests here at the University’s main campus.