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Commuters Face Alleged Exploitation on Rawalpindi-Khushab Route as Transport Authorities Turn a Blind Eye

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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.

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IG Punjab Takes Notice of Triple Murder in Attock, Orders Immediate Arrest of Suspects

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ATTOCK: Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Karim has taken notice of the triple murder incident in Attock and sought a report from the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi. He has also directed the District Police Officer (DPO) Attock to ensure the immediate arrest of those involved in the firing.

According to police, the DPO Attock, senior police officials, forensic experts and investigation teams have reached the crime scene and collected evidence.

The victims killed in the firing have been identified as 28-year-old Saman, 55-year-old Amir Aziz and 36-year-old Sabir.

DPO Attock Ali Bin Tariq said special teams had been constituted to arrest the suspects and assured that they would be taken into custody soon.

Earlier, RPO Rawalpindi Babar Sarfraz Alpa had also taken notice of the triple murder incident in the jurisdiction of Fateh Jang Police Station, reportedly triggered by a dispute between children.

The RPO directed senior police officers to immediately reach the crime scene and ordered the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) team to collect all available evidence and ensure a comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the incident.

He also ordered the immediate arrest of all suspects involved in the killings.

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Nationwide Screening, Coordinated Strategy Essential to Eliminate Hepatitis C in Pakistan: Mustafa Kamal

Hepatitis-C

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has stressed the need for nationwide screening and a coordinated strategy to eliminate Hepatitis C from Pakistan, highlighting the scale of the challenge as millions of Pakistanis are feared to be affected by the disease.

In a statement, he emphasized that the National Hepatitis C Elimination Programme must continue consistently to achieve its intended targets.

He said regular screening, uninterrupted availability of medicines, reliable diagnostic facilities, trained healthcare professionals and an effective monitoring system would be essential to ensuring the programme’s long-term success.

The minister highlighted the importance of free screening and treatment facilities, particularly for vulnerable segments of society, including daily-wage workers who cannot afford expensive medical tests, mothers concerned about their families’ health and elderly people who have avoided medical examinations for years.

He noted that free access to screening and treatment could make a significant difference in preventing prolonged illness and ensuring recovery among people who otherwise lack access to healthcare.

He further stated that effective implementation of the Prime Minister’s National Programme for the Elimination of Hepatitis C, backed by sustained institutional commitment, could become a significant public health initiative with far-reaching benefits for Pakistan.

The programme could play a vital role in saving precious lives, protecting low-income families from the financial burden of medical expenses and bringing the country closer to its goal of becoming free from Hepatitis C.

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Aleem Khan expresses grief over martyrdom of police personnel in Kohat

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications and President of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Abdul Aleem Khan on Thursday expressed grief over the martyrdom of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police personnel in a terrorist attack in Kohat.

In a message posted on social media platform X, he paid tribute to the courage and dedication of the martyred personnel, saying those who laid down their lives for the country’s peace and security were the true heroes of the nation.

He said that these brave sons of the soil had demonstrated through their supreme sacrifice that no compromise could ever be made on Pakistan’s peace and security.

Aleem Khan said that the sacrifices made by security institutions and law enforcement personnel in the fight against terrorism were a source of pride for the entire nation. He added that the extraordinary sacrifices of the brave Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police personnel would always be remembered, and the entire nation held its martyrs in the highest regard.

He further stated that the sacrifices of security forces for the complete elimination of terrorism and the establishment of lasting peace in the country were unforgettable. He emphasized that the sacrifices of the martyrs would not go in vain and that the entire nation stood united against terrorism.

Abdul Aleem Khan prayed for the elevation of the ranks and eternal peace of the departed souls and for patience and strength for the bereaved families. He also expressed his heartfelt solidarity with the families of the martyred police personnel in this hour of grief.

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