SHANGLA: Public transport companies operating from Bisham general bus stand, serving various parts of Kohistan district and other areas in Hazara division, have launched a boycott of the bus stand fee and other taxes by the TMA authorities.

The public transport service operators, including buses, pickups, coasters and others announced their boycott of operations from the general bus stand.

Sadam Hussain, a public transporter, said that they had unanimously decided to operate the bus service from the town centre instead of the general bus stand and would not pay the bus stand fee or any other taxes imposed by the TMA. He claimed that the staff of the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) had forced them to pay the unauthorised taxes and adda fee while operating from the general bus stand.

According to TMA officials, most transporters had illegally begun operating their vehicles from the town centre instead of the designated general bus stand. They further stated that pickups were now circulating in Bisham bazaar, causing inconvenience to shoppers, pedestrians, and leading to traffic jams.

The TMA staff collects Rs 30 to Rs 50 from various types of vehicles as a bus stand fee, but the transporters were reluctant to pay it. Several rounds of jirga were held in this regard to address the issue, but they proved to be in vain.

A meeting comprising local elders, TMA officials, and transporters was held with the assistant commissioner (AC) to resolve the issue.

The AC told the meeting that he would take legal action in collaboration with TMA and police officials against the transporters violating the rules.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2024