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'Cab mafia' ruling Lahore airport

LAHORE: A strong cab drivers mafia is ruling the Lahore International Airport where expatriats returning home are forced to cough up exorbitant fares.

One Muhammad Mushtaq who reached Lahore recently along with his family from Toronto to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr had to pay Rs 500 to the taxi driver for transporting him from the airport to Gulshan-i-Ravi.

"This is not the only incident of its kind at the airport; such complaints are a routine matter, and no one bothers about it", an immigration officer told APP.

A large number of Pakistanis returning home from the United States, United Kingdom, Europe or Canada have complained about the attitude and behaviour of the taxi drivers, who leave an absolutely negative image of Pakistan on the visitors' minds.

They pointed out that the drivers charge according to their will, and there is no one to bridle them.

The traffic police have set up a kiosk just outside the airport building, and are witness to the goings-on.

According to some passengers, most cabbies ask for fare in foreign currency, preferably dollars. APP