Major Hisham Amna, Minister of Local Development, conducted a series of phone calls today with governors to follow up on the measures taken to determine the new fare rates for taxis and public transportation on internal and external routes following the adjustment of petroleum prices by the Automatic Pricing Committee for Petroleum Products.

The Minister of Local Development pointed out that since the early hours of this Friday, the provinces have witnessed extensive meetings of the governors with the executive bodies and relevant authorities in the provinces to determine the new fare rates for taxis and minibusses on internal, external, and regional routes in line with the recent increases in petroleum prices.

Major Amna emphasized that the decisions issued by the governors regarding the new fare rates will be enforced by drivers and vehicle owners in all locations across the republic. He added that there will be continuous monitoring by the governors and executive leaders at the level of centers, cities, neighborhoods, and local units in cooperation with parking and traffic directors.

The Minister stressed the intensification of campaigns on passenger transport vehicles at various stations and squares to ensure drivers' compliance with the new fare rates for all internal and external routes, as well as adherence to designated traffic lanes. He also emphasized the necessity of taking strict action against any violations and legal measures against those attempting to exploit citizens.

He further directed the executive bodies in the provinces to urge parking directors to obligate drivers to display stickers and labels indicating the new fare rates on the front and rear windows of vehicles, in addition to hanging banners and signboards displaying the new fare rates in clear locations for citizens, along with complaint numbers and hotlines announced by the provinces to receive any citizen complaints.

Furthermore, the Minister of Local Development stressed the importance of intensifying monitoring campaigns in markets to prevent citizens' exploitation and price hikes, and to counter attempts by some traders to exploit the adjustment of petroleum prices and unjustifiably raise prices.

The Minister also directed the coordination between governors to determine the pricing of external routes between provinces and for the Cairo and Alexandria governorates to set the ride prices for public transport routes according to the new fuel price hikes.

Major Hisham Amna, Minister of Local Development, stated that the Operations Room and Crisis Management Department at the ministry will continuously monitor operations with the operations rooms in the provinces. He urged citizens to contact emergency numbers, hotlines, operations rooms, and the ministry's "Your Voice Heard" initiative via WhatsApp at 01200353111, on the social media platform Facebook at www.facebook.com/sotakmasmwo, and on the hotline: "15330".