KARACHI: Due to the rise in petroleum prices, transport terminal operators district-wide have raised fares for all routes by Rs100 to Rs300 for Eidul Fitr. Additionally, local route fares have seen an increase of Rs5 to Rs10.
Starting from today, Friday, residents from other cities will begin departing Rawalpindi and Islamabad for their hometowns to celebrate Eid with their families. Tuesday, April 9, marks the final working day before Eid, initiating early departures due to the subsequent weekend holidays.
Responding to district administration directives, the secretary of the Regional Transport Authority has convened a crucial joint meeting today, Wednesday, April 3, with transport terminal owners and major transporters across the district. The objective is to curb overloading and overcharging during Eid transport, although transporters have resisted reducing fares for the occasion.
Pakistan Railways is set to commence four special Eid trains from Sunday, April 7, with all seats fully booked. As a result, the closure of train seat bookings two days before Eid has shifted the burden of Eid traffic onto general transport vehicles.
Concerns arise among passengers traveling from Rawalpindi as no Eid trains are scheduled from there this year. Consequently, residents from other cities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are reliant on bus transport. To accommodate the surge, it’s been decided to add one or more additional coaches to each train three days before Eid, with seats allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at the station.
