Logar residents flay unfair hike in transport fares

PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): Residents of Pul-i-Alam, Mohammad Agha, Khoshi and Baraki Barak districts of central Logar province say transport fares remain high despite a reduction in fuel prices.

Ziaulhaq Ahmadi, a resident of Pul-i-Alam, told Pajhwok

Afghan News public transport fares had almost doubled compared to the past.

“Previously the fare from Kabul to Pul-i-Alam was 100 afghanis, but now it has been raised 150 afghanis and the fare from Pul-i-Alam to Mohammad Agha district is increased from 50 afs to 80 afs. From Pul-i-Alam to Khoshi district, the drivers previously charged 40 afs, but now they take 70 afs. Similarly the fare from Pul-i-Alam to Baraki Barak district has been increased to 80 afs from the previous 50 afs” he explained.

He said poverty and unemployment had increased and most people could not afford the high fares, urging the interim government to intervene and address the issue.

Ahmad Parwaiz, another resident of Mohammad Afgha district, told Pajhwok Afghan News the prices of petrol, diesel and liquefied gas had declined by 20 percent, but transport fares remained high.

“The transportation Department and the Municipality should take serious steps in this regard because people are not financially sound like before and can’t afford to pay high fares.”

A driver on the Kabul-Logar road, Mohammad Gul, told Pajhwok that the government had not given a specific pricelist to drivers and every driver was charging the fare of his choice.

He added: “Compared to the past, the number of passengers has decreased and businesses wound up. We don’t have a definite pricelist from the government and every driver is free to charge as he wishes.”

Logar governor’s spokesman Omar Mansour told Pajhwok that a joint delegation of the governor’s house and the transport department would be soon appointed to take action in this regard and regulate transport fares.

“Logar governor house is committed to ensuring justice and will jointly work with other departments to resolve the problem,” he promised.

Although fuel prices were not stable in the market but still the delegation would find a proper solution to the issue, he added.

Compared to last week, fuel prices have decreased in the country and the rate of liquefied gas rate has gone up.

ja/ma