LAHORE: The Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) has started working to reduce Lahore Orange Line and Metrobus System fares in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked for giving relief to the public following unprecedented hike in the prices of petroleum products, fruits and vegetables and commodities.

The PMA will take a final decision this week, Dawn has learnt.

“Yes, it is the government’s desire to give relief to the people by considerably reducing fares of public transport. So, we will discuss this issue in a meeting of the authority to be held within this week,” a senior official privy to the development told Dawn on Monday.

“Since we are expecting a favourable decision by the PMA in the meeting, we will get this decision (if taken) approved by the cabinet,” the official requesting anonymity added.

The PMA had earlier started working out a proposal seeking a distance-based fare scheme instead of a flat one (subsidised fare of Rs40) on the Orange Line train, but the proposal could not be materialized due to administrative, functional and political issues.

The coalition government has asked the PMA to reduce fares and submit a proposal to the authority and the cabinet.

“In fact, the proposal related to the introduction of distance-based fare on the Orange Line is already on the meeting’s agenda items. But after the government’s interest in making reductions in the fares of the entire Metro and Speedo bus operations, we have planned to either include this on the agenda items list or discuss it in the meeting by attaching this with the Orange Line’s fare proposal and take a final and positive decision,” he explained. “We are hoping that the authority would allow the PMA to introduce distance-based fares (with certain reduction) in all public transport.”

He said if the fares are reduced, the government would have to increase subsidy amounts for the orange train, metro and speedo bus operations. He said at present a subsidised Rs30 fare is being charged in metro buses and Rs15 in the buses plying on feeder routes.

According to another official source, the subsidy being provided by the government for the operations of such modern transport systems is, in fact, a targeted subsidy meant for the poor people. The IMF also wants the provision of subsidies to the poor people and not those having no financial or economic issues.

DRAINS: The desilitation of 70pc of the total 528 tertiary drains has been completed, enabling the city teams to complete the task by June 15, according to the Lahore Waste Management Company.

Teams are working in two shifts in various parts of the city. The teams desilted 252 drains in Nishtar, 84 in Allama Iqbal Town, seven in Gulberg, 80 in Ravi, 52 in Wagah, 48 in Data Ganj Bakhsh and five drains in Shalimar towns. In order to ensure the timely clearance of 528 drains of 398 km length and lifting of silt, 621 workers have been deployed in the towns.

Published in Dawn,June 7th, 2022