Punjab Cracks Down on Overcharging, Unfit Buses Ahead of Eid

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed provincial authorities to launch a crackdown on transport operators to prevent overcharging and ensure passenger safety ahead of Eid ul Azha.

Under the new directives, deputy commissioners and district police officers will inspect bus terminals across the province. Authorities have been ordered to ensure fare lists are prominently displayed on every bus and at all stands. The chief minister warned that the route permits of buses found overcharging and the licenses of their terminals would be cancelled.

Additionally, transport vehicles operating without valid fitness certificates will be banned from the roads during the Eid holidays. The transport department and district administrations have also been instructed to enforce a strict ban on the overloading of passengers. To facilitate travelers, the government has mandated the provision of cold drinking water at bus stands and established a helpline, 1071, for passengers to report complaints of overcharging.

During the announcement, the chief minister also expressed her condolences to the families of 11 people who lost their lives in a recent traffic accident on the Swat Expressway.