Bureau Report
LAHORE: No headway was made in Punjab-transporters talks on the implementation of SOPs on inter-city transport as another round of talks ended inconclusively on Wednesday. Speaking to media after meeting with Industries and Trade Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal, All Pakistan Transport Owners Association Chairman Asmatullah Niazi said he would consult with other members on the discussions held today.
A delegation of transporters met with the provincial minister to negotiate on the terms of resuming transport services in the province. “We will mull over the offer given by the government of running buses on the GT Road rather than motorway,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iqbal said that the policy of passengers sitting with a seat’s distance apart on the motorway was Centre’s and that the Punjab government could not exempt the transporters from the motorway taxes.
“We cannot intervene in the matters of the federal government,” he said, adding: “the provincial government would also request support for the transport sector as given to other industries.”
Iqbal said that the transporters were focusing on fares, while the government has to think of the poor people as well.
Earlier on Sunday, a detailed notification was issued outlining protocol for inter-city transport after an outcry by transport owners in Punjab over lack of collaboration on SOPs and reduced fares announced by the government.
