PricewaterhouseCoopers has signed a $950,000 management consultancy project agreement with the Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (Saptco).

The project is aimed at transforming and reorganising Saptco to develop it into a more market-driven and customer-focused organisation, said a Pricewaterhouse-Coopers statement.

Saptco general manager Abdul Moshadak said the reorganisation would help provide a high level of service to the pilgrims visiting the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.

He added that many new services were expected to be launched.

DCV posts 24pc growth

Dubai Cargo Village (DCV) has announced a 24.23 per cent increase in throughput to 267,424 tonnes in first-half 2000 compared with the corresponding period last year.

Cargo discharged in the two periods was 120,251 tonnes last year and 144,600 tonnes in 2000, a 20 per cent increase. Cargo uplifted increased by nearly 30 per cent from 95,006 tonnes to 122,823 tonnes. The figures include cargo in transit.

Emirates sets a world record

Emirates airline said it set a world record for cargo handled on a Boeing 777-300 passenger aircraft.

The airline said it flew 52.44 tonnes of cargo on a flight from Karachi to Dubai, of which 35 tonnes were mangoes, for onward transportation to other GCC states and the UK.

DTC slashes bus fares

Dubai Transport Corporation (DTC) has reduced the bus fare on its Dubai-Sharjah route from Dh6 to Dh5 ($1.6 to $1.3).

DTC director-general Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla said one of the reasons for the cut was the problem of change, with passengers preferring a round figure.

Meanwhile, some articles of establishment of the DTC have been amended.

Under the amendments, DTC will be allowed to transport passengers and cargo in and out of the emirate by taxis and minibuses or hired vehicles. The amendments also allow the DTC the right to assign any corporation or national company to do all or some of its jobs.

No licence renewal for private taxi

Dubai's Department of Traffic has been ordered to stop renewing licences to private taxi cars and to remove registration plates from taxis whose licences have expired.

The order was issued by the Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The decision excludes the owners of taxis having financial obligations to commercial banks or finance companies until their loans are repaid.