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Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Commuters suffer as transporters hike fares
In the wake of a sustained and steep rise in petrol and diesel prices, transport operators across all routes in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad implemented significant fare hikes on Wednesday. The increases has affected all modes of transportation in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including local, intercity, and long-distance travel. A recent Rs11 per litre spike in diesel prices has also inflated the cost of transporting essential food supplies, raising concerns over an impending wave of inflation. Public transport fares have risen by Rs5 to Rs15 per passenger, sparking widespread frustration among commuters. Local rickshaws, taxis, and Qingqi rickshaws have followed suit, increasing per-passenger fares. Motorcycle ride-hailing services such as Bykea have raised their minimum fare to Rs100. Meanwhile, minibuses, wagons, and coasters have begun charging passengers additional fees for carrying luggage. Pakistan Railways has also announced plans to revise its fare structure. In parallel, goods transporters have collectively agreed on a 10% increase in freight charges for both intercity and long-route deliveries. Muhammad Faisal, the vice-president of the Goods Transport Union, explains that transporters refrained from raising fares following the previous fuel price hike on July 1. However, the latest diesel price increase — pushing rates to an all-time high of Rs. 284 per liter — has left them with no viable alternative but to adjust fares. Asif Khan, the vice-president of the Transport Federation, criticised the government's continued price hikes over the past six weeks. He noted that in the open market, the prices of tires, spare parts, and mechanical services have soared by 500% to 800%. Additionally, he highlighted rising traffic fines and penalties, all of which have pushed the transport sector to the verge of collapse. The impact of fare hikes is already visible, with a sharp decline in passenger numbers. "Where families once traveled together for weddings and funerals, now only one or two members make the journey due to rising costs," Khan said. He warned that if fuel prices, spare parts, motorway tolls, and vehicle costs continue to escalate, many small transport businesses will shut down, leading to increased unemployment. Faizan Ali, a Bykea motorcycle operator, echoed these concerns. "Our regular riders were those paying Rs50 to Rs100. With fares nearly doubling, many can no longer afford the service. Now, two passengers often share a single ride to split the cost." He further noted the disparity between international and domestic trends: "Global fuel prices are falling, yet locally, we continue to raise them." Citizens have criticised the government's decision, pointing out that global oil prices have dropped to a historic low of $65 per barrel, yet Pakistan has increased domestic prices. They termed it a cruel move and demanded immediate price reductions. Citizens noted that during the PTI government, global oil prices were around $120 per barrel while petrol in Pakistan was priced between Rs150-155 per litre.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
New number plates: small traders decry ‘aggressive' traffic police drive
KARACHI: Leaders of the All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries Karachi have urged the Chief Justice of Sindh to take suo motu notice of what they term a 'broad daylight robbery' of Rs8 billion, being extracted from Karachi's citizens and traders under the pretext of replacing motorcycle number plates with newly designed Ajrak-themed ones. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday by President Mehmood Hamid, Vice President Javed Abdullah, Syed Naveed Ahmed, and General Secretary Usman Sharif, the trader leaders said that the new number plate campaign has turned into an excuse for bribery and exploitation by police. They called on the judiciary to protect citizens from this rampant misuse of authority. They alleged that the Sindh government has started collecting Rs1,850 per motorcycle for new number plates. They said without paying a briber of Rs2,500 to agents, obtaining these plates is nearly impossible. 'This is despite the fact that at the time of purchase, the government already collects an advance tax on motorcycles, which includes the cost of number plates. Charging citizens twice is unlawful,' the statement said. They further alleged that around 3.2 million motorcycles in Karachi are being targeted under this scheme, and that a crackdown has already begun on the megacity's roads, with traffic police reportedly stopping and fining riders aggressively. 'Traffic police have left all other duties and are now only focused on confiscating motorcycles and issuing challans,' they said, accusing officers and officials of looting the public with both hands. They expressed outrage over reports that applicants who submitted requests for the new plates last year have yet to receive them, while the enforcement drive continues unabated. Describing the entire process as unjust, they demanded an immediate halt to the fines and confiscations, calling the ongoing penalties and detentions 'oppressive.' The trader representatives emphasised that motorcycles are the primary mode of transport for the megacity's poor and lower-middle class, including small business owners who use them to transport goods. 'Petrol prices are already sky-high. Now traders are forced to carry goods on their motorcycles due to lack of alternatives,' they said. They alleged that traffic police are using the new number plate issue as a pretext to harass and extort riders. 'They pounce on motorcyclists like vultures and even search their pockets,' they said. Warning of serious protest, they stated that if these 'oppressive decisions' are not withdrawn, traders will lay siege to the office of the DIG Traffic and will not end the protest until their demands are met. Criticizing the state of public transport, they said the government thinks the problem has been solved by running just 200 to 300 buses in a city of 35 million. 'The public is already suffering due to the transport crisis. Now, banning Qingqi rickshaws on 20 main roads of Karachi has made life more difficult and pushed thousands into unemployment,' they said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'Depriving people of livelihood will push them to crime'
Depriving people of livelihood will push them to crime, said All Pakistan Qingqi Rickshaw Welfare Association President Haji Iftikhar. Ban on multi-seater rickshaws on 20 roads in the city is akin to pushing thousands of people into starvation, said Iftikhar addressing a press conference flanked by the general secretary of the association Haji Aamir at Karachi Press Club on Monday. The president and general secretary of the association demanded that the notification banning Qingqi rickshaws on 20 roads of Karachi must be withdrawn. Otherwise, they said that sit-in protests will be held across the city. They said that traffic police are issuing fines even on roads where the ban does not apply. They also mentioned that the notification issued by Commissioner Karachi imposing the ban has been challenged in court. The city administration is pushing the hardworking Qingqi rickshaw drivers and owners towards agitation, they said, and asked will it take a sit-in and roadblock across the city to make the government hear our views against ban on Qingqi rickshaws. Iftikhar and Aamir said that the Commissioner Karachi has imposed a ban on Qingqi rickshaws on 20 roads in the city. The ban has further increased the hardships for Qingqi rickshaw drivers amid rising inflation. They said that protests have been held before as well, but no one paid attention to their complaints or contacted them. They also mentioned that they had written multiple letters to commissioner and relevant departments regarding the issue, but received no response. They said that the situation has become so dire that Qingqi rickshaw drivers are now facing starvation at home. The drivers are being subjected to mistreatment by the traffic police, issuing fines even on roads where the ban is not in effect, causing severe distress among the drivers. The association has challenged the Commissioner Karachi's notification, and court hearing is still pending.
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Transport fares hiked across Rawalpindi
Transporters across Rawalpindi have increased fares on all urban, intercity, and suburban routes following a sharp hike in petrol and diesel prices. Passengers are now paying Rs2030 more per ride on local and twin-city routes (RawalpindiIslamabad), while fares on long routes have gone up by Rs4050 per passenger. Pakistan Railways has also decided to raise train fares. The sudden fare hikes have led to disputes between transporters and commuters in the twin cities. Qingqi rickshaw operators have added Rs10 per ride, while motorbike ride-hailing services like Bykea have increased fares from Rs100 to Rs130 per trip. Public transport vehicles such as Suzuki vans and Bykea servicing routes like Fawara Chowk to Bhara Kahu, Rawat, Adiala Road, Pirwadhai, Sihala, Golra Sharif, and Chaklala Airport have added Rs20 to their fares. Other routes including Saddar to Adiala Jail, Taxila, Rawat, Kahuta, and Kutchery have seen fare increases ranging from Rs10 to Rs20 per passenger. Passengers complain that fares rise immediately with fuel price hikes but are never reduced when prices drop. "From Raja Bazaar to Morgah, Rs10 extra was charged per person, yet no official fare hike notification has been issued," said commuter Asghar Ali. Meanwhile, Vice President of the Transport Federation, Asif Khan, justified the increase, stating, "Our vehicles run on petrol and diesel. When prices go up, it affects everything - spare parts, maintenance, tires - all have become 100% to 400% more expensive. We can't bear any more losses. Toll taxes and traffic fines have doubled or tripled, and traffic police bribes have also increased." Adding to the chaos, many petrol stations across the city suspended fuel sales late Sunday night around 11pm in anticipation of the price hike. Most stations refused to dispense more than 12 litres per customer, leading to long queues of cars and motorcycles. Normal sales resumed after the official announcement of the new prices.
Express Tribune
05-06-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Rawalpindi goes full 'bakra mode'
Women and children gather around a bull destined for sacrifice as part of the Eidul Azha rituals, on the greenbelt of Sector G-6, Islamabad. PHOTO: RAJA ZAFAR/EXPRESS A record number of citizens headed to cattle markets to purchase sacrificial animals of their choice on Thursday. A large number of animals have already arrived for sale at all 23 small and large cattle markets across the city and district. The markets will remain open from 8am to 2am late at night. As Eidul Azha draws closer, despite official restrictions, the sale of small and large sacrificial animals has started in marketplaces, street corners and vacant plots across the city effectively turning the entire city into a livestock market. In Rawalpindi, animals are being sold on major roads, intersections and within densely populated residential areas. Due to the central cattle market at Bhatta Chowk being located 20 to 25 kilometres from the city and the resulting high transportation costs, many citizens are now preferring to buy animals from local neighbourhoods and nearby areas. After the district administration's announcement, the District Council has also declared six official cattle market sites within its jurisdiction, leading to a heavy influx of animals in these areas as well. Currently, cattle markets are active across Rawalpindi city and its outskirts including Ghazni Road, Bagh Sardaran, Pirwadhai, IJP Road, New Katarian, Dhok Hassu, Dhok Dalal, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Railway Road Bakery Chowk, the area behind the High Court, Swan Camp, Rawat, GT Road, Adiala Road, Chakri Road, Chohar Chowk, Chungi No. 22, Bakra Mandi, Dhok Syedan Road, Chaklala, Dhok Lalyal, Bhatta Mandi, Rahimabad Bridge, Tarnol Phatak, Peshawar Road Pirwadhai, Dhok Chohdrian Car Chowk, and in the tehsils of Chhani Pul, Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Kotli Sattian and Taxila. Traffic jams are widespread around market areas and adjacent roads. The large number of loader vehicles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws has made it difficult for people to move and even ambulances are getting stuck in traffic. Due to the constant arrival and departure of animals, the roads inside and around the cattle markets are littered with animal waste. Although traffic wardens have been deployed, the situation has spiralled out of control due to the overwhelming rush. Meanwhile, animal prices are skyrocketing. Bulls and cows are being sold for between Rs300,000 to Rs1.5 million, goats and sheep range from Rs150,000 to Rs500,000, while camels are priced between Rs500,000 and Rs1.5 million. Markets choked with Eid rush Our Correspondent RAWALPINDI: Due to the heavy Eidul Azha shopping rush, traffic came to a standstill across all commercial centres, markets, and plazas in Rawalpindi. With today being both Friday and Chand Raat (the night before Eid), additional security arrangements have been made in the markets. All major shopping areas will remain open until 2am tonight. Saddar bazaars have been made one-way to manage the flow. Severe congestion was reported in Commercial Market, Murree Road, Saddar, Tench Bhatta, Bara Market, Raja Bazaar, and Moti Bazaar — the latter being a popular shopping spot for women. Pedestrian movement became extremely difficult due to overcrowding. Incidents of purse snatching in Moti Bazaar have increased, prompting the deployment of female police officers in the area. On Thursday as well, markets remained packed with shoppers, with widespread encroachments and traffic jams. Despite the presence of traffic wardens, they were rendered ineffective due to the chaos. Illegal parking further worsened the situation. High demand pushes up slaughter charges Our Correspondent RAWALPINDI: With just one day left before Eidul Azha, butchers in Rawalpindi have significantly hiked their charges for slaughtering sacrificial animals, setting new records in rates. Due to high demand, bookings for the first day of Eid have already been closed. Butchers have introduced separate pricing for each of the three days of Eid, with further distinctions for morning and post-Maghrib (evening) slaughter. Temporary butchers from nearby areasparticularly from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's adjoining districts such as Haripur, Abbottabad, and Havelianhave also entered the market to earn during Eid. Many have shared their phone numbers and services on social media. According to current rates, slaughter and meat preparation of a cow or bull will cost Rs22,000 (in morning) and Rs20,000 (in evening), and for a goat or sheep Rs6,000 on first day of Eid. Butchers will charge Rs20,000 for cow/bull (in morning) and Rs18,000 (in evening), and Rs4,500 to Rs5,000 for goat/sheep. For the third day of Eid: rates for cow/bull will be Rs15,00016,000, and goat/sheep Rs4,000.
