By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE: THE shortage of diesel in the market has forced the Punjab University to suspend its bus service for students.Nonetheless the university administration is reluctant to buy diesel available on inflated prices as it would create problems during annual audit, say those who are at the helm. The suspension of bus service by the P
unjab University (PU) has been causing great troubles to the students as most of them are now solely dependant on public transport.It is learnt that similar problem of diesel’s shortage was being faced by other universities which are planning to cut the number of buses being used to pick and drop students.The Punjab University which has the largest fleet of buses among public sector universities of the metropolis is, at the moment, providing only shuttle service to its students between varsity’s Old Campus and New Campus. While service to pick and drop PU students from different localities of the city has been suspended by the university administration for the last two days.The total strength of PU students is over 25,000 while according to an estimate over 15,000 students use varsity’s transport service on daily basis to reach both campuses from various areas of the city.Talking to The News, a number of students expressed concern over suspension of PU bus service and criticised the government for not addressing the issue of fuel shortage on priority basis. Mehwish, a student, said female students were worst hit by the suspension of varsity’s bus service adding that certainly no one could blame PU administration for this. “It is quite difficult for a female student to use public transport these days”, she said adding, “The massive rush on roads adds to their miseries.”Another student said it was quite strange to note that PU did not have a single CNG-bus. He said the situation would have been different provided university had such buses.He suggested that universities should induct CNG-buses in their fleet. He said it would not only reduce environmental issues but would also help reducing expenditures spent on fuel.When contacted, PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said that bus service on various routes had to be suspended because of shortage of diesel. He said the service would be resumed as soon as availability of diesel was ensured. He said the univers
ity would certainly plan to convert maximum number of its buses on CNG.Talking to The News, PU Resident Officer (RO-I) Dr Bashir Ahmed said the university was facing shortage of diesel for its buses owing to which only shuttle service was being provided to the students. He said the shuttle service was earlier provided after every half an hour from the varsity’s Old and New Campus but now it was being offered after a delay of one hour.He said students as well as their parents had been informed that some routes would not be operational for some time because of shortage of diesel.Dr Bashir said total consumption of fuel by the PU buses was over 3,000 liters per day. He said the university could not purchase diesel on inflated prices as it would lead to audit objections.
LAHORE: THE shortage of diesel in the market has forced the Punjab University to suspend its bus service for students.Nonetheless the university administration is reluctant to buy diesel available on inflated prices as it would create problems during annual audit, say those who are at the helm. The suspension of bus service by the P
unjab University (PU) has been causing great troubles to the students as most of them are now solely dependant on public transport.It is learnt that similar problem of diesel’s shortage was being faced by other universities which are planning to cut the number of buses being used to pick and drop students.The Punjab University which has the largest fleet of buses among public sector universities of the metropolis is, at the moment, providing only shuttle service to its students between varsity’s Old Campus and New Campus. While service to pick and drop PU students from different localities of the city has been suspended by the university administration for the last two days.The total strength of PU students is over 25,000 while according to an estimate over 15,000 students use varsity’s transport service on daily basis to reach both campuses from various areas of the city.Talking to The News, a number of students expressed concern over suspension of PU bus service and criticised the government for not addressing the issue of fuel shortage on priority basis. Mehwish, a student, said female students were worst hit by the suspension of varsity’s bus service adding that certainly no one could blame PU administration for this. “It is quite difficult for a female student to use public transport these days”, she said adding, “The massive rush on roads adds to their miseries.”Another student said it was quite strange to note that PU did not have a single CNG-bus. He said the situation would have been different provided university had such buses.He suggested that universities should induct CNG-buses in their fleet. He said it would not only reduce environmental issues but would also help reducing expenditures spent on fuel.When contacted, PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said that bus service on various routes had to be suspended because of shortage of diesel. He said the service would be resumed as soon as availability of diesel was ensured. He said the univers
ity would certainly plan to convert maximum number of its buses on CNG.Talking to The News, PU Resident Officer (RO-I) Dr Bashir Ahmed said the university was facing shortage of diesel for its buses owing to which only shuttle service was being provided to the students. He said the shuttle service was earlier provided after every half an hour from the varsity’s Old and New Campus but now it was being offered after a delay of one hour.He said students as well as their parents had been informed that some routes would not be operational for some time because of shortage of diesel.Dr Bashir said total consumption of fuel by the PU buses was over 3,000 liters per day. He said the university could not purchase diesel on inflated prices as it would lead to audit objections.
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