KARACHI - All Pakistan Transport Association General Secretary Akhtar Saeed Khan has said that after the hike in petroleum prices, Supreme Council of Transporter called an urgent meeting on Monday (today) at local hotel in Karachi to discuss their future line of action regarding new petrol prices.
While talking exclusively with The Nation, he said that hike in petroleum prices is unaffordable for the transporters to manage their routine business under these circumstances. He said that we don’t want to disturb our passengers but we have no choice to stop increase in fare.
On long route from Karachi to Peshawar we are charging Rs 2200, Karachi to Islamabad Rs 2000, Karachi to Lahore Rs1800 while Karachi to Quetta Rs 1300. The luxury buses to Quetta also charging Rs 2300.  It will be up by Rs Rs 500 to Rs 700 after the addition for each destination if the government would not address the issue, he added.
He further added that the hike in toll tax and sales tax which comes Rs 100 to 700 per seat also  expand the price of transportation.  Saeed said climbing of petroleum prices and taxation also affect the containers who transport essential items across the country badly hampered the common men.   Talking to The Nation President Sindh Air Condition Bus Owner Association said we do not want to increase fares but we think government don’t want that and not only increase the prices of petroleum products but also increased the prices of auto parts by imposing of different taxes.
On the other hand, Karachi Transport Ittihad President Irshad Bukhari told The Nation we are just waiting for upcoming meeting of Supreme Council of Transporters which is scheduled on Monday where we would decide the line of action for the future.
Irshad Informed that 11000 private coaches and 2000 buses running on the roads of Karachi for different routes which is charging initially Rs 10 for a destination.
He said after the cut in Compress Natural Gas price government reduce their charges but most of the mini coaches not obeying the price list.