Swat transport operators seek relief package.

MINGORA -- The local transporters have demanded of the government announce relief package for them and devise standard operating procedure for them to ply vehicles on the road.

They said that they faced acute financial problems owing to the continuous lockdown imposed after the coronavirus outbreak. They said that they cooperated with the government and kept their vehicles off the road since March 25 but the government ignored them completely and did not announce any relief package for them.

They said that the bus stand in Mingora was one of the biggest stands in Malakand division from where hundreds of public vehicles took passengers to Mardan, Peshawar, Abbotabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and other parts of the country on daily basis.

'Daily more than 100 coasters, over 200 vans, about 50 buses and over 200 taxicabs would go to Mardan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Thousands of families are connected with public transport,' said Anwar Ali, a clerk at Mingora general bus stand.

Ask govt to devise SOPs for resumption of their business

He said that he would earn Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 daily but became jobless after the bus stand was closed due to lockdown.

Mohammad Ali, a driver, said that he would earn Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 daily and was happy with that as it was sufficient to buy daily use items for his family. 'Presently, I do not have a single penny and do not know what to do. I have already borrowed from...