Public transport fares in Punjab have been slashed by 18 per cent after successful negotiations between Punjab government and transporters
The development comes as Punjab government has decided to allow public transport to resume its operations across the province from Monday. Punjab government and transporters had been stuck in a deadlock over fare rates as government had demanded a 40 per cent reduction in fares due to significant reduction in petroleum prices in recent days.
Meanwhile transporters had argued that a 40 per cent reduction in fares is unfeasible for them as they will be abiding by the government SOPs which will significantly reduce their profit margin as they will be required to buy hand sanitizers, masks and gloves, along with the fact that passenger capacity has also been limited by the government to ensure the provision of social distancing measures.
In addition to it, Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan has stated that along with public transport, auto industry and shopping malls will also resume their operations from Monday.
Punjab has reported a total of 14,201 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 4,757 recoveries and 245 deaths.
