PESHAWAR: The Private Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, operated by a private company, has issued a warning to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over outstanding dues exceeded Rs600 million as the latter has not paid for the months of May and June.
According to the company, they are unable to pay their employees’ salaries and cover maintenance expenses of the bus service due to lack of funds. If the outstanding balance is not settled within a week, the bus service will be suspended.
In a letter addressed to the Transport Secretary, the private company expressed concern over the non-payment of the outstanding amount. Despite previous correspondence, they have not received any positive response, indicating a clear sign of an impending crisis. May and June 2023 have already passed without receiving 90 payments for the expenditures incurred.
The company, in the letter, mentioned that the delayed payment of previous month’s expenses, as stipulated in the contract, constitutes a blatant violation of the agreement. The company lamented the unfortunate circumstances, stating that they are left with no choice but to halt their operations. It is difficult for the company to meet essential requirements such as diesel, lubricants, spare parts, and even salaries for employees. The shortage of funds severely affects the responsibility to fulfill obligations and maintain a smooth bus service.
The private company has requested an immediate payment of the obligatory fund within a week. In the event of non-payment, operations can be tragically suspended, causing inconvenience to the public and disrupting the overall transportation system.
