In a significant move to protect commuters from escalating transport costs, Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon convened a meeting on Monday with officials from Sindh’s transport and mass-transit department to address the recent surge in public transport fares. The minister expressed serious concern over the unilateral fare hikes implemented by transport operators, which have placed an additional financial burden on the general public.
During the meeting, Sharjeel Memon instructed the secretary of the transport department to conduct a thorough review of the fare increases, emphasizing the need to establish a fair and balanced adjustment that considers both the economic realities and the welfare of passengers. The minister underscored that any fare revision must be regulated and approved by the government to prevent exploitation.
Highlighting the ongoing issue, the minister condemned the self-declared fare hikes by transporters, which they justified by citing the recent sharp rise in petroleum prices. He noted that such unauthorized increases are unjustifiable and have severely strained the financial capacity of ordinary citizens who rely on public transportation daily. “The authority to revise transport fares rests solely with the government and its designated transport department,” Sharjeel Memon asserted firmly.
To curb this malpractice, the minister directed the transport department to launch an immediate field inspection campaign aimed at identifying and penalizing transporters who have raised fares without official sanction. He also called for the establishment of an efficient complaint resolution mechanism that would allow passengers to report fare violations promptly and receive timely responses. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability within the transport sector.
The backdrop to this situation is the government’s recent decision to increase petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 per litre, a move that triggered a nationwide fare hike of up to 25 percent across various modes of public transport. Passenger buses, wagons, and mini-Mazda vehicles have all seen fare adjustments described as the most substantial in the last seven years. Furthermore, the cost of goods transportation has also risen by approximately 25 percent, impacting container and truck logistics between major urban centers such as Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. This chain reaction in transport costs has broader implications for the economy, affecting both consumers and businesses alike.
Sharjeel Memon’s intervention reflects the government’s commitment to balancing the operational costs faced by transporters with the need to protect commuters from unjustified financial pressure. As the transport department gears up for intensified monitoring and enforcement, passengers and transport operators alike await further directives to ensure a fair and sustainable transport fare structure in Sindh.
