KABUL (SW) – A number of women in Kabul say that because of sitting in the front seats of small city cabs they have to pay double the fare to the drivers.
Some of these women told Salam Watandar that these issues have made it difficult for them to navigate.
Hamida, a resident of Kabul, said that she goes to Aliabad hospital three times a week to visit the patient, but according to her, every time she has to pay two people’s fare to the drivers of small cars. She said: “I am doing a lot of planning on this path and every day I pay an extra 10 afghanis, I get a meal for my children. Last week I paid three times the rent for two people. If I pay 30 afghanis extra a week, it is difficult to find it under these conditions.”
On the other hand, Ghazal, a resident of Taymani area of Kabul, said that she has been forced to wait on the road for hours due to not being able to pay double fare. She said: “I came from Shah Do Shamshera on Thursday, I sat in the front seat of the taxi and he told me that there is no other woman and you have to pay 60 afghanis.”
With the establishment of the caretaker government, two women have been banned from sitting in the front seat of small cars, and every woman who sits in the front seat has to pay double the fare.
On the other hand, drivers of small cars say that due to economic problems and high fuel prices, women who sit in the front seat of the car have to pay double the fare.
Mohammad Naseem, a driver in Kabul, said: “Now two people are not allowed to sit in the front seat. Consider that fuel costs 80 afghanis per liter. If we don’t find money for expenses, how can we make a living and it’s hard for us too.”
At the same time, officials of the Ministry of Transport say that motorists are not allowed to carry two people in the front seat or charge double the fare from the person who sits in the front seat.
The spokesman of the said ministry, Imamuddin Ahmadi, said: “This matter is under observation. Those who sit two people in front of the seat will be treated legally. If anyone is faced with such a situation, they should file a complaint with the traffic police.”
Officials of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation say that the ministry has set aside fares at the stops, and according to them, if anyone faces the same situation, they should complain to the relevant agencies.
ENDS
