KARACHI: Overcharging of porters at the Karachi Cantonment Station has become a routine practice as the government prescribed rate of Rs 35 per trip is considered by many as very low as compared to general price hike.
The porters at the station often charge up to Rs 100 per trip – well over the limit set by the Pakistan Railways (PR). These porters are hired by the PR contractors who get 30-40 percent earning of porters as their commission.
Allah Bux, a porter at the Karachi Cantonment Station, said that due to growing inflation, the porters too are forced to overcharge, as it is not possible for them to manage their living with such low income. He added that they also have to give commission to their contractor as well, and charging as per rates set by the PR it is not possible for them to survive.
When contacted Divisional Superintendent Syed Anzar Ismail Rizvi while talking to PPI said that porters were not the regular employees of Pakistan Railways; however, the department has the authority to set their tariffs. He said that if any coolie is involved in any misconduct then his contractor is accountable to the PR.
He said that the set tariffs were on the basis weight carried by the porter, adding that the PR has set rate of Rs 35/40kg per trip. He claimed that passengers are happy paying such price. Answering a question he said that since the porters were not the regular employees of the PR then there was no question of including them into the social security scheme.
Chairman Railway Workers Union Manzoor Ahmad Razi said that the issue was not new as the rates have not been changed for a while now; however, the inflation has increased dramatically over the years.
