RAWALPINDI: After the ticketing staff of the metro bus service, its drivers observed strike on Friday against non-payment of salaries and fines imposed on them.

Issuance of travel tokens to passengers was halted and the service was suspended.

Protesting drivers said the bus service administration was imposing fines on them and deducting them from their salaries, calling it unjustified. They also pointed out that some of them had received their salaries late.

An official from the Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) said it was the government’s responsibility to manage these matters as it had outsourced services. He said the company concerned had been asked to solve the matter as soon as possible.

There is no issue of salaries as they were paid on time, he said, adding that “some elements wanted to create a bad image of the administration so they used the drivers to hold protests.”

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2021