Pakistan Railway announces increase in train fares

Islamabad: Pakistan Railways (PR) has now raised the prices for passenger trains by 5%, extending the aftershocks of the POL price increase on Monday.

The increase will be applicable from tomorrow (Sept 19). A notification has been issued in this regard.

It is important to recall that the price of rail transportation had also increased by 5% after the last increase in petrol prices.

Earlier, the Interim Railways Minister presided over a meeting of PR and issued the order to install Wapda meters in every residential unit of Pakistan Railways.

The minister also ordered the Sibbi-Harnoi railway route to be restarted.

Earlier, the Goods transporters have hiked fares by 10% on Sunday, following the recent increase in diesel price by the interim government.

The head of the good transporters association, Tanveer Ahmed Butt, claimed that the rising price of fuel had forced them to raise the rate. Following the "hike in diesel prices up to Rs40 per litre in 15 days," the goods transporters declared an increase in charges of 10%.

Tanveer claimed in a statement that the sharp increase in diesel prices had driven up their costs and that they are just operating transportation to keep the nation moving.

According to Tanveer Butt, if we stop operating transportation, unemployment will rise.

Following a rise in fuel costs earlier in the month, local carriers unilaterally raised the charge by up to 20% without seeking approval from the authorities.