Karachi Administration Intensifies Crackdown on Overcharging Public Transport
The Karachi administration's ongoing campaign against buses, minibuses, and special coaches overcharging passengers has seen significant enforcement actions over the past two days. Acting on the directives of Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi, Deputy Commissioners across various districts have supervised operations targeting fare violations, resulting in substantial refunds to passengers and penalties for operators.
Widespread Fares Inspection and Passenger Refunds
According to official reports, fares were checked in a total of 63 buses during Tuesday and Wednesday. In these inspections, authorities refunded Rs 14,800 to passengers who had been overcharged. The campaign has emphasized not only correcting immediate overcharges but also ensuring accountability among transport operators.
A detailed breakdown shows that on Tuesday, fares were inspected in 52 buses, while on Wednesday, checks were conducted in 11 buses. Assistant Commissioner Liaquatabad Sara Khan, collaborating with Traffic Police and the Regional Transport Authority, led an operation on Wednesday that specifically checked fares in eleven buses and minibuses. During this operation, she refunded Rs 5,000 to various passengers in District Central and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 for violations of official fares. Additionally, one Mazda bus was seized by the Traffic Police on her directives.
Substantial Fines and Vehicle Seizures in Korangi District
In Korangi district, the crackdown extended beyond fare checks to include verification of required documents such as permits and driving licenses. Deputy Commissioner Korangi Masood Bhutto reported that in Model Colony and Korangi sub-division, a total fine of Rs 135,000 was imposed for violations. Authorities seized six buses, four vans, and six rickshaws as part of these actions. Furthermore, in Landhi, eight buses were inspected, leading to a refund of Rs 3,000 to passengers.
Overall, the campaign has resulted in a cumulative fine of Rs 710,000 imposed on bus operators involved in fare violations across Karachi. One Mazda bus was seized for legal infractions and handed over to the police, underscoring the administration's strict approach.
Coordinated Efforts Across Subdivisions
The campaign has seen coordinated efforts from multiple Assistant Commissioners. In addition to Sara Khan's actions, Assistant Commissioner Garden Manshad Shahani refunded excess fares collected from twenty passengers. Similarly, Assistant Commissioner SITE Nida Saman and Assistant Commissioner New Karachi took action against overcharging in their respective subdivisions, ensuring refunds to affected passengers.
Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi has issued clear directives to all Deputy Commissioners to continue the campaign vigorously. He emphasized the need to take action against those charging excess fares and to ensure that any overcharged amounts are promptly refunded to passengers. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to protect commuters and enforce fair pricing in public transport, particularly highlighted around Labour Day.
The administration's proactive measures aim to curb overcharging practices and promote transparency in Karachi's transport sector, benefiting thousands of daily commuters.
