Representative image
The recent hike in fuel prices in Qatar has hit transport service providers in the country and some of them have already increased their fares, while others are expected to follow suit.
Sources at some private schools have also hinted that they would seek approval from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to hike bus fares in the next academic year due to an increase in fuel prices.
Since January last year, the prices of petrol have gone up by over 50 percent. Diesel prices have also seen a similar hike over the past two years. Despite the increase, fuel prices in Qatar remain one of the lowest in the region.
The prices fluctuate every month following a decision of the Ministry of Energy and Industry in April last year to continuously revise the prices in line with the global prices.
As per the February price list issued by the Ministry, Super grade petrol costs QR1.65 per litre while Premium petrol is priced at QR1.55. Diesel costs QR1.50.
Sources at schools and private transport companies said yesterday that transport charges in Qatar are on the rise due to the hike.
An official of Safari Transport, a leading transport service provider, said that the company increased its trariffs by five percent last year. The company provides on-call limousine services, rent-a-car services and rental vehicles.
“The rise in fuel prices has definitely affected the budget of our company. The fares we used to offer to customers have increased by 5%,” Christina Andrews, General Manager of the company, told The Peninsula.
“We provide trucks to different companies. Last year, we increased the tariff by 5% to cope with the increase in fuel prices. Prices have increased again this year. We have to accommodate every expense within the given budget which becomes difficult for us,” said an official of another transport company.
Muhammed Jaleel, Operational Manager at TechnoLead and Heavy Equipment Company, said: “Despite the recent revision, fuel prices are still affordable in Qatar. We would be forced to increase our fares slightly in the near future.”
An employee of Al Waha Transport, Maintenance and Contract Company, said: “As the fuel prices have increased, this will eventually affect our costs. The price is still affordable but in future it will cause difficulties for us to run heavy vehicles at old rental rates. If this trend continues, we will be forced to increase our price next year.”
Sources from some private schools also hinted that a hike in school bus fares would become necessary.
“It is becoming difficult for the management to meet the operational costs. We will surely increase the fees we charge for buses subject to approval from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education,” said a school official.
