Public transport: Political stand-ins

Published: April 16, 2011

Public bus-stand crops up over night, PML-Q alleges govt is ‘driving them out’. ILLUSTRATION: ESSA MALIK

FAISALABAD:

The City District Government (CDG) Faisalabad has set up a public transport and inter-city air-conditioned buses and wagon stand in the record time of 48 hours on Thursday.

The new stand has been established at the site of the defunct Government Transport Stand (GTS) near Jhal Khannuana Bridge in Faisalabad.

A CDGF spokesperson said that the general public would be given 20 per cent concession for travelling to other cities at the new stand. Although the stand is now operational, there is still no provision of wash rooms, ticket counters, a mosque or a waiting room.

No formal approval for the establishment of the stand on the site, which was previously earmarked for public auction was made. The establishment was set up in extraordinary haste and secrecy and according to officials, the allotments were made on a first come first served basis. “There were no advertisements to hire people in the press and everything seems to have been done overnight,” transporters said.

Overall supervision and operational affairs have also been awarded without any proper announcement or advertisement in the media.

There are several reports that the stand has been established to punish Pakistan Muslim League-Q leaders Chaudhary Zaheeruddin and Chaudhary Asim Nazeer who run the Temoor Travels and Kohistan Bus Service between Jhall Khannuana Bridge and Station Chowk.

The PML-Q leaders have accused the local administration of prejudice.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2011.