A fresh rise in petroleum costs has pushed transport fares up across Pakistan, adding pressure to commuters already facing high inflation.
In Lahore, negotiations between the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and transport operators resulted in an officially approved fare increase of 3–4%. The meeting at Transport House saw RTA Secretary Rana Mohsin turn back larger demands from operators, authorising only a limited rise and warning that any unauthorised surcharges would be met with strict legal action. Mohsin said no transporter would be allowed to charge beyond the approved range and that updated fare schedules would take effect immediately.
Fuel prices climbed by more than 7%, prompting regulators to permit the modest adjustment. Despite the cap, passengers report paying higher rates in practice: some public transport operators have effectively raised fares by about 5%, further stretching household budgets. Commuters expressed frustration, saying frequent increases are making daily and intercity travel increasingly unaffordable.
Intercity ticket prices have moved noticeably higher. A one-way ticket from Lahore to Rawalpindi is now around PKR 2,340, travel to Peshawar costs about PKR 3,100, and fares to Faisalabad and Sargodha are reported near PKR 1,260. The long-distance Lahore–Karachi route has risen to roughly PKR 9,720 after a significant increase.
The impact is not limited to passenger transport. Goods carriers and mini Mazda operators have also raised rates by about 5%, citing steep diesel prices. In Karachi, the Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance announced a sharper 10% hike.
Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan criticised the government’s approach to fuel pricing, saying the existing subsidy of PKR 80,000 is inadequate and arguing that operational costs have surged—by as much as PKR 200,000 per trip in some cases. He warned that global tensions have disrupted nearly half of transport operations, worsening the sector’s difficulties.
Authorities say they will monitor fares closely and take action against operators who flout the approved lists, while transport groups warn further increases could follow if fuel and operational costs continue to rise.
