ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Traveling by train in Pakistan is set to become costlier as Pakistan Railways announces a substantial increase in both passenger and cargo fares. The move comes in the wake of the government’s record-breaking rise in petroleum prices, reflecting the first wave of economic consequences hitting the country.
Economy class ticket fares will rise by 5 percent, while AC class tickets will see a 10 percent increase. Cargo transport has been hit harder, with fares rising by 20 percent, a change expected to influence the cost of moving goods nationwide. The revised fare structure will take effect on Monday, March 9, though passengers who have booked tickets in advance will not be impacted.
A spokesperson for Pakistan Railways stated that the department will continue to absorb part of the rising operational costs, even as fuel prices drive up overall expenses.
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The fare hike follows the government’s largest-ever fuel price increase, with petrol and high-speed diesel prices jumping by Rs55 per litre. The ex-depot price of high-speed diesel rose from Rs280.86 to Rs335.86 per litre, a 20 percent increase, while petrol climbed from Rs266.17 to Rs321.17 per litre, up 17 percent.
Pakistan’s heavy reliance on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has made the country vulnerable to supply disruptions. Authorities note that these disturbances, exacerbated by global tensions, necessitated the steep fuel price hike, which is now cascading into transportation and other sectors.
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