RAWALPINDI: Commuters travelling between Rawalpindi and Khushab, along with surrounding areas, are facing growing financial hardship due to alleged overcharging by public transport operators. Passengers using vehicles departing from Ghausia Bus Terminal near Pirwadhai are complaining that transporters are charging arbitrary fares on routes connecting Miani, Buchal, Peel, Padhar, Kallar Kahar, Jauharabad and Khushab, with little apparent enforcement of officially prescribed fare rates.

Passengers allege that transport operators are openly exploiting commuters by charging excessive fares, effectively putting an additional burden on the pockets of ordinary citizens. They have also questioned the performance of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), the Secretary RTA, traffic police and district administration, whose responsibility includes monitoring public transport fares and ensuring compliance with government regulations.

The complainants have raised concerns over what they describe as the continued silence of the relevant authorities despite repeated public grievances. Some passengers have also called for an impartial investigation into suspected collusion between transport operators and concerned officials, stressing that any allegations of official involvement or negligence must be investigated transparently.

A major concern raised by commuters is the inconsistent response of transporters to fluctuations in petroleum prices. According to passengers, fares rarely come down when fuel prices decrease, but transport operators are quick to increase fares whenever petroleum prices rise. This practice, they say, has made regular commuting increasingly expensive for government employees, private-sector workers, labourers and other daily travellers.

The Rawalpindi-Khushab route is a vital transport corridor serving thousands of people across Khushab district and adjoining areas. Passenger vehicles leave Ghausia Bus Terminal, near Pirwadhai Mor, at approximately half-hourly intervals, providing regular connections between Rawalpindi, Jauharabad and several towns and villages along the route.

Travelling via the motorway, these vehicles exit at the Kallar Kahar Interchange and serve Kallar Kahar, Miani Adda, Peel, Padhar, Buchal and various localities across the Wanh ar region.

A substantial number of passengers on this route include federal and provincial government employees working in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, private-sector professionals, businesspeople and personnel associated with the defence services. Workers employed in the industrial areas and cement factories around Kallar Kahar also depend heavily on this transport network.

The passenger rush becomes particularly heavy on Thursdays and Fridays, when employees travel to their hometowns for the weekend, and again on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings, when they return to their workplaces in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. During these peak periods, passengers say they face additional difficulties due to excessive fares and the alleged arbitrary practices of transport operators.

Commuters have urged the Commissioner Rawalpindi, the Chief Minister of Punjab and other senior authorities to take immediate notice of the situation and order a comprehensive inspection of Ghausia Bus Terminal and all vehicles operating on the route.

They have demanded that official fares for every destination be clearly determined, displayed prominently at bus terminals and inside vehicles, and strictly enforced. Transporters and terminal operators found charging above the approved rates should face appropriate legal action.

Passengers have further demanded accountability of any government official found negligent in performing assigned duties or involved in any proven collusion with transport operators. They insist that the matter should not be confined to official statements, warnings or paperwork, but should result in visible enforcement and regular monitoring.

Commuters are asking a simple question: Who will protect ordinary passengers from arbitrary transport fares? They have appealed to the Commissioner Rawalpindi and the Chief Minister of Punjab to intervene immediately, ensure accountability and deliver practical relief to thousands of people who depend on this route for their daily and weekly journeys.