THE Gujrat school van fire incident that took lives of 16 innocent children adds to the agony of crises caused by inappropriate policies, corporate greed, malpractice and non-adherence to transport safety.

Yet there is a convenient way that the government can avoid such incidents in future and offer safe, affordable and comfortable journey to school and college students.

The government should allow duty-free import of 15-year-old school buses and vans with identification colouring like those used in developed countries.

These will be similar to import of ambulances and subject to vehicle fitness, or the government should allow tax-free manufacturing of the same within the country, conforming to applicable safety codes, to lower cost as an incentive.

These buses may only be authorised for utilisation for the education purpose and should be allowed to operate on CNG like the Metro Bus in Lahore subject to fitness monitoring and certification.

I do recall, during my childhood, student fare in the Lahore bus service was 25 paisas which was very reasonable at that time. Similar subsidised fares may be offered through exemption of duties/taxes.

If adopted, the service may provide a safe, respectable and affordable mode of conveyance to our children who are our future hope for success.

R.M. ABBASIIslamabad