Qaim, Ebad disucss supply of essential items during Ramazan

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali had a meeting with Governor Dr Ishrratul Ebad Khan at Governor's House on Tuesday evening during which various matters of importance, besides prevailing conditions in different sectors, came under review. The supply of essential items during Ramazan-ul-Mubarak and the steps taken for their availability on fixed rates also came under consideration. They reviewed the time frame for completion of development projects and performance improvement in various sectors.

The two leaders emphasised ensuring good governance and financial discipline and observed that only then fruits of government efforts can reach the common man. The chief minister informed the governor about fresh initiatives taken in regard to Thar Coal field for power generation. The governor and chief minister had the consensus that power generation with effective utilisation of Thar coal would help improve the economic and social conditions in the area and job opportunities would also be available.

Raise in transport fare offers no benefit to commuters: Reluctance written large on their faces in accepting conductors' insistence for an additional amount of a minimum Rs 4 in the buses and coach fares, the local commuters wanted to know if conditions attached to the raise were ever met. Talking to APP here on Wednesday the commuters, mainly comprising citizens of limited earnings, said both government and transporters expecting people to comply with the two consequent raise, made within a span of three months, expect atleast some improvement in the condition of the vehicles too.

Mrs. Iqbal Wasi, a senior citizen and former principal of a reputable school said, "previously decisions to increase transport fare also had mandatory provision for "ameliorated vehicle status", that is its fitness in all aspects.

"Such promises this time seems not to be made at all, even for heck of it, allowing transporters to simply have their way," said Mohammad Abid Hussain. The two frequent commuters, using public buses in the cosmopolitan said little improvement was witnessed and people have to travel on obsolete and worn-out vehicle with little consideration towards cleanliness.

Azhar Ali, a commuter unable to express his haplessness said assurances that transporters would ensure fitness of their vehicles and that CNG buses would be introduced in almost no time, once the raise is made, never got materialized. "We are compelled to travel on the same rickety wagon and bus which may get collapsed just in middle of our journey with no chance for fare refund," complained Maryam Akhter, a receptionist at a hotel in downtown.

There was no dearth of complainants who mentioned as how very often they found extremely difficult to sit on seats which were not only untidy but also shrunk in width as well as in numbers to accommodate maximum number of passengers compelled to cover long distances in a standing position.

Naureen Nighat, a garment factory worker said poor maintenance of the vehicles as sharp and pointed pieces of tin used as decoration, nails sprouting out of seats do torn apparel exposing passengers to embarrassing situation besides adding to their misery. Majority of the women commuter agreed with Naureen and referred to space reserved for women, often occupied by men. They also complained of deliberate attempts by many of the transporters to reduce the space meant for women consequently making them to wait for long hours.

Irfan Ibrahim, a student said that increase in the international rates of the fuel must have compelled the government to make the difficult decision.

"I, however, can not understand as why the benefit of decline in oil cost in the international market can be passed on to us," said the student. Irfan also urged that high handedness of the transporters must be curtailed. Most of the citizens were unanimous that cops must not simply be there to penalize the vehicles, under one or the other pretext, but ensure that fitness tests are genuinely conducted and each vehicle necessarily carries the needed certificate. Azhar Ali referred to a statement issued by concerned government authorities that transporters have committed to remove pressure horns and extra glasses from their vehicles yet these could still be found with absolute impunity.

I also could not notice any discipline among the drivers in context of speed limit, he said. A large majority of the citizens, including car owners, regretted that no concrete measure could ever be taken to withdraw, from city roads, vehicles emitting hazardous fumes.

Mohammad Iqbal, a transporter agreeing with most of the public complaints said different transport bodies are attempting to address these but also held many of the commuters responsible for their own plight.

"Even when new buses and wagons are brought in people tend to make mess of it consequently all have to suffer," he said.

The transporter said worn-out buses would be gradually taken off from the roads and suggested for meaningful subsidy and assistance by the government.

Partly cloudy day expected: The Met office has forecast a fair/partly cloudy day in the metropolis for next 24 hours. The maximum temperature is expected to remain between 33 and 35 degrees celsius.

MBBS Second Professional Supplementary Exam result announced: The University of Karachi on Wednesday announced the result of the MBBS Second Professional Supplementary Examination 2008. According to statistics, 66 candidates appeared in the examination and of these 54 were declared successful with a pass percentage of 81.82.