LAHORE - Up to 70 percent of public transportation in major cities of the country is unfit, posing a serious risk to commuters while authorities pay no heed.
From mini vans to Mazdas and from rickshaws to taxis, only 10 to 20 percent of vehicles are fit for travelling but being a case of a commoner, authorities are not worried. Recently, the Lahore Transport Authority (LTC) has introduced new and comfortable buses at many routes but these too are not enough to meet the public need and commuters have no option but to choose old dated and expired vehicles to reach at their destinations. Lahore desperately needs 2,000 buses and only 300 to 400 ply at City’s routes. 
After the horrible Gujrat incident, the Transport Department has speeded up operation against vehicles using old-dated LPG and CNG cylinders in the City. The operation would continue for next two to three days and after that unfitted buses would re-hit the routes. Severe shortage of public transport and corruption are the two main hurdles against cordoning off unfit vehicles, say sources in the Department.
Not only in Lahore, unfit public transport vehicles including taxis, ply in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and in most area of Punjab and other parts of the country including Karachi, Hyderabad and Peshawar.
“The legal basis of motor vehicle fitness, examination and fitness certification exists in the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965. As per rules all transport vehicles must carry a valid fitness certificate to ply on road. But issue of fitness certificate function is no more than an eye wash, serving no meaningful purpose, except ‘rubber stamp’ compliance,” said the report.
 The lack of proper vehicle fitness inspection is the result of old, smoke-emitting vehicles with dangerously fitted LPG, CNG cylinders and oil tankers.
“Travelling in unsafe, smoke-emitting and unfit vehicles is violation of the commuters’ rights and can led to incidents everywhere in country,” said a daily commuter Muhammad Jamil.
On the other side, authorities started operation against the LPG decanting shops in the City. Over 200 shop owners were challaned and registered FIRs have been lodged against them.
 The shop owners have staged protest demonstration against the operation at Bund Road and Jinnah Park areas.
“This is not a solution of the problem. We have to make policies and shift them in particular areas instead of closing their small business,” said Attique Khan, a representative of LPG Association.
He said that after operation against LPG decanting shops, now the people opened shops inside their homes which was more horrible.
There is no CNG for vehicles and gas at homes, where the people go to earn their livelihood and cook their food, he questioned.
Crackdown on illegal fuel sale-points
On the directions of Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed and DIG Operations Jawad Ahmed Dogar, police raided illegal sale points of petrol and LPG in various parts of the provincial metropolis.
A police spokesman said that the Lahore police registered at least 300 cases against the illegal dealers of LPG and those found involved in the open sale of petrol.
DIG (Operations) also directed the police to take strict action against the owners of petrol agencies in order to avoid any untoward happening.
All the station house officers (SHO’s) are directed to ensure only the legal usage of LPG and petrol along with vehicle fitness inspector.
In a statement, DIG Jawad Ahmed Dogar further said that crackdown against the violators would continue since the purpose of the action is to ensure the safety of general public.