School van operators in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have increased monthly transportation fares by up to 40% following the recent rise in petrol prices, putting additional financial pressure on parents.
Parents reported that van owners are demanding an extra Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000 per month without any regulatory oversight. The increase has affected families whose children travel only three to five kilometers to reach their schools.
One parent, Sidra, said her children’s van driver increased the monthly fare from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 8,000 for their daily commute from G-10 to a school in F-7, a journey of around 10 minutes.
She questioned the increase, particularly as the government had announced a petrol subsidy for vehicles with engines up to 800cc. She also complained that van operators continue charging full transportation fees during summer and winter vacations, leaving parents with limited options to challenge the charges.
Meanwhile, van operators have defended the fare increases, citing higher petrol and CNG prices, vehicle maintenance expenses, traffic fines and driver salaries.
One operator said parents often overlook additional operating costs, including fuel expenses, driver payments and commissions paid to schools. He maintained that operators had increased monthly fares by only Rs. 1,500, describing the adjustment as justified.
The rising transportation costs have added to the financial burden on families in the twin cities, with parents calling for better oversight of school van fares.
