Commuters across Pakistan are facing yet another blow to their budgets as transporters have announced an increase in fares on various intercity routes, following the government’s recent hike in petrol and diesel prices.
The federal government’s decision to raise petrol by Rs. 8 per litre and diesel by Rs. 10 per litre has triggered fare adjustments across the board, with transport companies citing higher operational costs as the main reason.
Fare Hikes Across Short and Long Routes
Passengers traveling on shorter routes like Lahore to Faisalabad, Bhalwal, Chakwal, and Sialkot now have to pay an additional Rs. 50. For example, the fare from Lahore to Sialkot has gone up from Rs. 700 to Rs. 750.
Longer routes have seen even steeper increases. A ticket from Lahore to Kotli now costs Rs. 2,300, up from Rs. 2,000 — a Rs. 300 jump. Routes to Mirpur, Karachi, and other major cities have also seen fares rise between Rs. 200 and Rs. 300. Other routes such as Sahiwal and Jhawarian have experienced fare hikes of Rs. 50 to Rs. 100.
Passengers Express Concern
Many daily commuters have expressed frustration, saying that the burden of repeated fuel price hikes falls heavily on the working class and low-income passengers who rely on intercity buses for work and family visits.
“This is getting unbearable,” said one regular passenger at Lahore’s main bus terminal. “First petrol prices go up every month, and now we have to pay more just to travel for work. Everything is getting expensive except our salaries.”
Transporters Defend Decision
Meanwhile, transporters maintain that the fare increase was unavoidable given the surge in fuel and maintenance costs. “Our profit margins are already shrinking due to high diesel prices and spare part costs. We had no option but to adjust fares to keep services running,” said a bus company representative.
A Sign of Broader Inflation
The fare hike reflects the larger inflationary pressure that Pakistanis continue to face. Rising petroleum prices not only increase the cost of travel but also affect the prices of goods transported by road, adding to everyday living expenses.
With the latest hike, passengers are calling on the government to find a sustainable solution for rising fuel costs and to provide relief to the public already struggling with high inflation.
