Thousands of people leave Karachi for their native areas in different parts of Pakistan to celebrate Eidul-Fitr. But a simple journey home becomes cumbersome when these passengers are cheated while on their way.

“As per estimates from last year, at least 3,000 vehicles will leave Karachi during the three days of Eid, which includes air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses,” says Colonel (retd) Tariq Malik, the administrator of Karachi Bus Terminal, located at Sohrab Goth.

While talking about the scams these passengers face, Malik told Aaj News that there are people who sit outside Cantt Station and Taj Complex in the Saddar area of Karachi, who issue tickets. Malik said these passengers are then asked to board the bus from the Karachi Bus Terminal located in the Sohrab Goth area.

The tickets are fake and the company that issued them does not exist but the passengers only get to know about the deceit upon reaching the bus terminal.

However, non-existent companies are not the only problem. Some companies issue tickets for business or luxury class buses but shift the passengers to substandard vehicles during layovers.

“Therefore, I would highly advise people to either make the bookings online or visit the Karachi Bus Terminal in person to get the tickets,” said Malik.

Other than the ticketing issue, safety and security is also a concern.

Last year many cases were reported in which passengers were offered snacks spiked with sedatives during the journey. After the passengers would fall unconscious, they would be robbed of their valuables.Malik said it is better to not eat anything offered on the bus during the journey.

While sharing his experience about the Punjab Bus Terminal, an illegal bus terminal in Karachi, 36-year-old Dilawar Abbasi told Aaj News he was once charged for a luxury bus but was made to sit in an economy class vehicle.

“Since then, I have preferred to go home in a Faisal Movers bus because it is an authentic service,” said Abbasi, who is from Abbottabad and runs a restaurant in Karachi. “I have been travelling by Faisal Movers for the past five years. Although I have to pay more than what I would earlier, I’m satisfied with their service.”

Karachi Bus Terminal is one of the four bus terminals that is managed and controlled by the Sindh government. The other three are Daewoo Bus Terminal in Sohrab Goth, Yosuf Goth Terminal which is mostly used by passengers commuting between Karachi and Balochistan, and Korangi Bus Terminal for vehicles coming from and going to the National Highway.

“At least 12 to 13 illegal bus terminals are situated in Karachi, most of which are built on government land and where major transport companies are operating their buses,” said Malik.
He further said that the Sindh High Court has given clear instructions to control the encroachment by these bus terminals.

The police and Deputy Commissioner Office are also working on clearing the land of encroachers.