RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has awarded contract of issuance of fitness and passing certificates in respect of public transport to a foreign firm across the Punjab province while this firm has increased the fees five fold sparking resentment among the transporters. Sources said that the contract for issuing passing and fitness certificate has been awarded to a Swedish company which has set up its computerised workshops in Green Town and Kalashah Kaku Lahore and stared its work with increasing passing and fitness certificate fee by 5 times. These higher rates stand applied with immediate effect. On the other hand the provincial government has jacked up the late payment surcharge by two times. Approval has been accorded to this company to set up its workshops in Chini Pull Rawat and Pirwadhai bus stand At a meeting held in Lahore under the secretary transport Punjab, all the motor vehicle examiners of Punjab province have been strictly directed not to issue new fitness or passing certificate to any public service vehicle which is passed in Lahore.Transport sources said that the passing fee was fixed Rs 250 for rickshaw, taxi and Rs 300 for Suzuki, wagon and bus prior to awarding the contract to a Swedish company but now the fee has been announced by the company as Rs 1050 for all public transport including rickshaw, wagon and bus. They also will be required to pay Rs 370 additional under the general sales tax head. Sources said that earlier a public transport plying on Rawalpindi to Lahore route could obtain passing and fitness certificate from any city but under the new policy ban has been imposed to obtain certificate from any other city. When contacted, Raja Riaz, Chairman Muttahidda Transport Federation Punjab (MTFP), told Daily Times that assigning the job of issuance of fitness and passing certificates to a private company by the Punjab government was sheer injustice. Transporters from across the Punjab had absolutely rejected this step. He cautioned if the decision was not taken back then the transporters would launch a protest movement in phases. Protest demonstrations will be taken out and sit-ins will be staged in different cities of Punjab. He said under the new system, transporters and owners of vehicles have to seek time from the company in connection with fitness and passing of their respective vehicles. A vehicle is not cleared in the test if one percent weakness is witnessed during the fitness and passing test. If the vehicle owners approach them for a second time then they have to pay an additional fee to the tune of 25 percent and in the event of a third time they are required to pay 50 percent additional fee to the company.“We have no objection over improvement in the system. But the government should first of all fine tune the road infrastructure. Everywhere in all the cities, poor quality spare parts and sub standard and adulterated mobile oil is being sold out, therefore, how can the transporter keep the vehicles fit”, he questioned. He said that about 60,000 to 700,000 taxis, 25,000 rickshaws, 10,000 suzukis , 12,000 to 15,000 loading suzukis and other goods transport was plying in Rawalpindi city. But no attention was being paid to provide basic facilities to public transport.He observed that the government collected a revenue of millions of rupees from the transporters prior to implementation of the policy of awarding contract to a foreign company but now the entire money would go to foreign hands. “We will not keep mum over this matter as a hefty increase in fees is tyrannical order”, he protested.