Hike in POL prices prompt goods transporters to raise fares by 10%

FAISALABAD, (NNI): Following hike in the petroleum products' (POL) prices announced by the government last night, goods transporters have increased their fares by 10 per cent.

Faisalabad Goods Carrier Association Chairman Chaudhry Aslam said on Tuesday that after an increase in the rates of petrol and diesel, it was not possible for the transporters to charge old fares. "Therefore, we have increased the fare on each route by 10 per cent," he informed.

Elaborating further, Aslam said that now the fare of a 16foot-wide vehicle from Faisalabad to Lahore had been increased from Rs18,000 to Rs19,500.

Similarly, he said, the fare of a 20-foot-wide vehicle from Faisalabad to Lahore had been increased from Rs22,000 to Rs24,000.

"Likewise, we have increased fares on routes," he informed.

On Monday night, the government announced an increase in the prices of petroleum products for the next fortnight.

According to the Finance Division notification, the price of petrol went up by Rs4.53 per liter; that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs8.14 per liter.

The new price of petrol is now Rs293.94 per liter and that of HSD is Rs282.24 per liter, the notification said.

It added the price variations were worked out by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority based on price variations in the international market. The government did not announce the prices of kerosene and light diesel oil (LDO). also other