Rawalpindi:
Following a sustained and steep increase in gasoline and diesel prices, transport operators on all routes in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad implemented meanings of rates increases on Wednesday.
Increases have affected all transport modes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including local, interciated and long distance trips.
A recent RS11 increase per liter in diesel prices has also inflated the cost of transporting essential food supplies, which increases concerns about an imminent wave of inflation. Public transport rates have increased in RS5 to RS15 per passenger, which caused a generalized frustration among travelers.
The local rickshaws, the taxis and the rickshaws qingqi have followed their example, increasing passenger rates. Motorcycle transport services such as Bykea have raised their minimum rate to RS100. Meanwhile, minibuses, wagons and Russian mountains have begun to collect additional rates for transporting luggage.
Pakistan Railways has also announced plans to review its tariff structure. At the same time, goods transporters have collectively agreed to an increase of 10% in freight charges for both deliveries and long routes deliveries.
Muhammad Faisal, vice president of the union of transport of goods, explains that transporters refrained from increasing rates after the previous increase in fuel prices on July 1. However, the last increase in diesel prices, which leads to rates to a historical maximum of RS. 284 per liter: He has left them without a viable alternative but to adjust the rates.
Asif Khan, vice president of the Transportation Federation, criticized the continuous price walks of the government in the last six weeks. He pointed out that in the open market, the prices of the tires, the spare parts and the mechanical services have shot at 500% to 800%. In addition, he highlighted the growing fines and traffic sanctions, all of which have led the transport sector to the edge of the collapse.
The impact of rates walks is already visible, with a strong decrease in the number of passengers. “Where families once traveled together for weddings and funerals, now only one or two members do the trip due to the increase in costs,” Khan said.
He warned that if fuel prices, spare parts, highways of highways and vehicle costs continue to increase, many small transport companies will turn off, which will lead to greater unemployment.
Faizan Ali, a Bykea motorcycle operator, echoed these concerns. “Our usual runners were those who paid RS50 to RS100. With almost duplicate rates, many can no longer pay the service. Now, two passengers often share a single trip to divide the cost.”
In addition, he noticed the disparity between international and national tendencies: “World fuel prices are falling, but locally, we continue to increase.”
Citizens have criticized the government’s decision, noting that world oil prices have dropped to a historical minimum of $ 65 per barrel, but Pakistan has increased internal prices.
They described him as a cruel movement and demanded immediate price reductions.
Citizens noticed that during the PTI government, world oil prices were around $ 120 per barrel, while gasoline in Pakistan had a price between RS150-155 per liter.
