RAWALPINDI: Just 36 days after the launch of the metro bus service, its drivers on Friday went on a strike against non-payment of two months’ salaries as promised by the Turkish Al-Burraq company, which has been awarded the contract to run the mass transit between the twin cities.

The commuters faced hardship as the drivers parked the 64 buses at different stations for more than four hours till 5pm. The drivers threatened to halt the service on a permanent basis if their salaries were not released before Eidul Fitr.

The protesters were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the Punjab government and the officials concerned of the Metro Bus Authority (MBA).

They demanded Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif take notice of the non-payment of salaries to them. Action should also be taken against the officials concerned for creating financial problems in the MBA soon after the launch of the service, they added.

The local administration held negotiations with the protesters at the Pakistan Secretariat Bus Station and assured them that the issue would be resolved. After this, the protesters called off the strike.

When contacted, Commissioner Zahid Saeed told Dawn that he had asked the private company to resolve the problem.

He said after negotiations, the company assured the metro bus service employees that they would be paid the salaries before the Eid. He said the chief minister also took notice of the strike and decided to penalise the private company.

“Under the contract, the private company will be penalised if the metro bus service got suspended,” he said.

“Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif held a video conference and also asked the contractors to repair the leakages created after the rains. On the directions of the chief minister, the asphalt work near 7th Avenue has been started. No additional funds will be used for the repair work as under the agreement of the contract the contractor will have to carry it out on their own,” said the commissioner.

Meanwhile, Due to the closure of the metro bus services hundreds of commuters remained stranded for hours in the metro bus stations.

After coming to know about the strike, the Protesting drivers suspend metro bus service commuters were left with no option but to use the public transport on the service roads of Murree Road.

“The poor quality of the construction on the metro bus track was exposed during the rains and now the strike has showed the efficiency of the authority running the affairs of the bus service,” said Muhammad Akram, a commuter at the Saddar bus station.

Kamal Hassan, a commuter at Liaquat Bagh, said Rs50 billion were wasted on the bus service which remained closed during rains and twice due to strikes.

“People ask about the spending of the hefty amount of Rs50 billion on the metro bus project. The quality of the construction on the metro bus track over Murree Road is poor as there is no arrangement to drain out rainwater,” he said.

Waqar Ahmed, another commuter, said after only one month financial problems erupted in the bus service.

He said an inquiry should be held to ascertain how in a short span of time the financial problems developed in the bus authority due to which the employees were not paid their emoluments on time.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play