PESHAWAR, March 4: In the wake of hike in prices of petroleum products, the Provincial Transport Authority (PTA) on Friday announced over 19 per cent increase in inter-city transport fares, but it did not issue a separate fare list for CNG-run vehicles.

The fare was increased by 19.8 per cent for vehicles plying on inter-city routes. According to the revised fare list, the fare for Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan was increased from Rs350 to Rs406, Peshawar-Bannu from Rs250 to Rs295, Peshawar-Faislabad from Rs400 to Rs500, Narwal from Rs400 to Rs448, Rahim Yar Khan from Rs900 to Rs1190 and Sadiqabad from Rs900 to Rs1,190.

An official of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) said that the fare for intra-city transport would be revised upward after the approval of the commissioner Peshawar. Majority of passenger transport vehicles in Peshawar are run by CNG, which is available at Rs57 per kg. However, owners of the CNG-run vehicles are also demanding increase in the fares. When contacted, head of legal action committee of Sarhad Transport Owners Federation, Haji Ihsanullah, also admitted that those using CNG and demanding increase in the fare were in fact fleecing passengers and the government should take strict action against them.

“I have raised the point and demanded of the government to announce separate fare lists for the CNG and diesel-run vehicles, but who cares,” he said. However, an RTA official said that a meeting would be held on Saturday (today) to decide such matters. He said that the RTA had also received several complaints in this regard and action would be taken against those violating `the rules`.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference, Haji Ihsanullah strongly criticised the government for increasing the price of petroleum products and said that increase in fares was not a solution to the problem.

“The government has officially increased the fare but we will not charge the revised fare,” he said and added that transporters` would continue raising their voice for cut in the oil prices.

Mr Ihsan alleged that the government was promoting mafias in the shape of transporters and contractors of the bus stands, who were bringing a bad name to all the transport owners.

“We are not supporting those who have been overcharging passengers and the government should initiate action against them,” Mr Ihsan said and added that some contractors in connivance with the government officials were overcharging transporters.

Mr Ihsan was accompanied by other transporters, including Khan Zaman and Haji Fateh Gul, at the press conference.