MANSEHRA: People on Saturday demanded of the district administration to reduce the fares of public transport in accordance with the recent reduction of petroleum prices.

“The government has reduced petroleum products prices in recent weeks but people have yet to benefit from it,” resident Mohammad Ayub told reporters.

Accompanied by a group of residents, Mr Ayub complained that the district administration had failed to adjust transport fares despite tangible reduction in the rates of petroleum products.

“Transporters enhance fares at will whenever petroleum prices go up but this time around, the government slashed those prices but the fares haven’t come down,” he said.

Complain commuters denied relief from slashed oil prices

The resident said the district administration should ensure relief in fares to commuters amid high inflation, which had caused them serious financial problems.

Meanwhile, the administration of Oghi tehsil has reduced transport fares in accordance with the recent cut in petroleum prices.

A meeting was held in this connection with assistant commissioner Fahad Zia in the chair.

The participants included the representatives of transporters, who agreed to fare reduction on almost all routes from Oghi to other parts of Hazara Division and the country. Mr Zia warned transporters against overcharging commuters.

PROTEST THREATENED: Teachers on Saturday warned they would take to the streets if their demands, especially post upgradation, were not met.

“Our provincial body has decided to agitate from Sunday to force the government into accepting our demands,” All Primary Teachers Association president Attique Mughal told reporters here.

Accompanied by other office-bearers of his association, Mr Mughal said a meeting of the provincial chapter of the All Primary Teachers Association, which was also attended by presidents and general secretaries of district bodies from across the province, recently decided about street protests.

“Teachers throughout the province are denied post upgradation, which we cannot tolerate any more,” he said.

Mr Mughal said the government had approved the upgradation of teacher posts in 2023 from BPS-12 to BPS-14, from 14 to 15, from 15 to 16 and from 16 to 17, but the decision had yet to be implemented.

“If the government is sincere about addressingthe shortage of teachers in primary schools across the province, it should ensure enforcement of one teacher one school policy,” he said.

The APTA president said teachers should be allowed to relinquish their promotions if they were unwilling to accept it under APT Rules, 1989.

“The government has initiated privatisation of schools and so far seven institutions are handed over to private firms in the province, this decision should immediately be rolled back,” he said.

Mr Mughal said teachers would hold protests outside press clubs across the province on Sunday (Oct 7) seeking acceptance of their demands by the government.

“If the government doesn’t accept our demands, we will stage a sit-in outside the KP Assembly indefinitely,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2024