Karachi, the country’s economic capital, attracts a significant migrant labour population who eagerly return home for Eid 2024 after a year of hard work. Unfortunately, every year, the aspirations of many migrant workers for a family reunion are dashed when transportation companies raise inter-city bus tickets right before the holiday season.
Sadia, a lady working for a government agency in Karachi, stated that the costs of children’s education and household maintenance had risen to such a degree that returning home for Eid had become unaffordable. “Last year, when I came to Lahore with my family, I paid an additional Rs2000 per person for bus tickets, totalling Rs55,000. Given the current rate of bus prices, my reserves are insufficient this year,” said Sadia, who would not return home for Eid.
Similarly, Sultana, a widow from Multan, works at a sewing industry in Karachi with her two daughters. “All three of us save money throughout the year to travel back home, but the two-way bus travel fares for three people this year have reached Rs30,000, so we cannot afford to celebrate Eid 2024 with our loved ones.” “Hundreds of migrant workers, including myself, will celebrate Eid alone in Karachi, away from their families,” Sultana explained.
Unlike Sadia and Sultana, Samiullah, a Pishin server, was fortunate to have an employer who covered a portion of his Eid travel expenses. “This year, due to a rise in diesel prices, bus rates for Eid have reached Rs6,500. My supervisor has given me Rs5,000, which would be plenty for a one-way trip. “I’ve saved Rs20,000 for other expenses,” Samiullah remarked.
“Last year, I paid Rs5400 for a bus ticket during Eid, but now the same ticket costs Rs6000,” confessed Saifullah, a barber in Sardogha.
According to hotel owner Malik Asif Raza, individuals from Punjab, K-P, and Balochistan work in various sectors in Karachi, with daily wages ranging from Rs800 to Rs1500. “These laborers wish to go to their native areas for the two Eid’s but due to inflation and increase in transportation fares, 60 per cent cannot afford to travel home for Eid since at least Rs30,000 is required for one trip,” Raza said.
“People’s buying power has dropped owing to inflation. People cannot afford rising transportation costs. Every year, due to the government’s inattention, transporters raise the fare of inter-city and inter-provincial buses on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha,” said Ahmed Raza, a social leader, who urged the government to reduce fares by 30 to 50 percent on both Eids so that Karachi’s migrant workers could celebrate Eid at home.
On the other side, Akram, a secretary at the Saddar bus terminal, claimed that the fare from Karachi to other parts of the country varied. “On regular days, the appropriate fare is payable. Some bus operators levy an additional price on the occasion of Eid 2024 on their own. In general, the union has directed that fares not be increased.
Similarly, a representative from the Inter-City and Inter-Provincial Buses Union stated that the union had not issued a directive requiring the implementation of higher charges before Eid.
A representative from the Sindh Government’s Transport Department commented on the topic, saying, “Strict action is being taken against the increase in inter-city and inter-provincial transport fares before Eid, and transporters have been instructed to charge fixed fares only.”
Iqra Khan