PM freezes Pakistan Railways fares

On Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted major relief to railway passengers by directing Pakistan Railways to freeze fares despite rising diesel costs. The government will shoulder an additional Rs6 billion until June 30 to keep travel affordable and freight charges stable. According to a PR spokesman, the government chose to absorb the impact of rising diesel prices itself "after a 30 percent fare hike was deemed unavoidable to meet operational expenses". The prime minister's directive covers all classes, including Economy and AC classes, while freight charges will also remain unchanged to support the business community. Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi said the decision has won passengers' hearts in difficult times, describing it as a gift that ensures affordable travel and stable freight services. On Thursday, the government further increased the petrol price by Rs137 per litre, or 43%, to a historic high of Rs458.4 after PM Shehbaz decided to impose more taxes on consumers. The new petrol price of Rs458.4 per litre is also far higher than the increase in the international market, as Shehbaz decided to increase the petroleum levy on petrol to a record Rs160.61 per litre.