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Comprehensive route permit policy this month

KARACHI: A comprehensive route permit policy will be announced by mid of February to provide better transport facilities for commuters.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by provincial Transport Minister Dewan Mohammad Yousuf Farooqui to review the route permit policy here on Monday.

Representatives of transporters, Inspector General Sindh, Secretary Transport, DIG Karachi and Traffic, Secretary RTA and PTA were also present at the meeting.

The meeting decided to strictly inspect the fitness of public transport vehicles and ground all those which fail to pass fitness examination.

It was also decided that all the public transport vehicles will have uniform colour, to be decided later, for identification.

Addressing the transporters, the minister advised them that they should ask their drivers to refrain from over-speeding, follow traffic rules, stop their vehicles at prescribed bus stops and behave courteously with passengers.

The minister assured them representation on advisory committee.

The transporters assured the minister of providing better transport facilities to commuters.

The minister issued directives for increasing the allocated ladies seats in public transport vehicles.

He took serious notice of money extortion and harassment of transporters by the police and asked the IG to take action against police to stop this practice.

He also asked the IG that the inspection of buses being plied between Karachi and Hyderabad should be carried out only at Toll Plaza. APP