School Van Fares Increased by Up to 40% in Islamabad, Rawalpindi

In Islamabad and Rawalpindi, school van operators have raised monthly transportation fees by up to 40% in response to the recent increase in petrol prices, causing financial strain for parents. Parents expressed frustration that van owners were demanding an additional Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000 per month, despite many schools being only three to five kilometers away.

For instance, a mother of two named Sidra reported her children's van driver increasing the monthly fare from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 8,000 for a 10-minute commute from G-10 to a school in F-7. The operator defended the increase, citing higher fuel and maintenance costs, as well as traffic fines, while asserting that the fare hike was justified.

Parents argued that van owners continued to collect the full fee during school vacations, even though they had no authority to dispute the charges. Operators contended that they had only raised fares by Rs. 1,500, but acknowledged that they must factor in additional expenses such as fuel, driver salaries, and commissions paid to schools.