Fare increase leads to clashes between drivers, passengers as people urge govt to reverse Rs55/litre surge
KARACHI:
The government’s massive increase in petroleum prices has pushed Karachiites to the brink, with fares for public transport also surging, triggering arguments and even scuffles between passengers and drivers.
On Friday night, the government notified a Rs55/litre increase in the prices of petrol and diesel. Many citizens initially could not believe the news and called friends and family to confirm. But at petrol pumps, the reality of the steep hike left them stunned.
“Essentials like flour, lentils, sugar, rice, cooking oil, and milk are already being sold at sky-high prices. How can a worker earning Rs30,000-40,000 a month, or a daily-wage labourer making Rs1,000, support their families?” said one resident, voicing widespread frustration.
Six-seater rickshaw drivers said they have raised fares by Rs10, but collecting the extra charges has sparked conflicts with passengers. At an illegal chingchi stand in Liaquatabad No 10, tensions escalated into verbal clashes and occasional scuffles.
A motorbike taxi driver reported that petrol is now being sold at over Rs322 per litre, forcing him to raise fares from Rs100 to Rs160. “Passengers curse us as if we hiked the petrol prices ourselves,” he said, adding that earning a daily livelihood has become extremely difficult.
Intercity bus operators also raised fares dramatically, charging up to Rs1,000 extra per ticket for destinations including Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, and Multan. Within Sindh, passengers are paying an additional Rs200-300, while private taxis to Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, and Sanghar are also charging Rs200 more per ride.
Citizens have called on the government to immediately reverse the petrol price hike, warning that the increase has placed unbearable pressure on ordinary families and made daily commuting a financial burden.
