Transport fares surge after fuel price hike

Following the federal government's sudden Rs55 increase in petrol and diesel prices - described as the biggest hike in the country's history - transporters across Pakistan have immediately increased fares, while Pakistan Railways has also approved a rise in ticket prices.

After the increase in fuel prices, many citizens parked their cars and switched to motorcycles, while a large number of motorcyclists have also started using bicycles.

The sharp rise in transport fares has caused difficulties for passengers, students and people travelling to the district courts and the twin cities from nearby areas. Local transporters have raised the stop-to-stop fare to Rs50. The fare from the city to the district courts has been increased to Rs100 and from the city to Morgah to Rs130.

Local buses and wagons have increased fares by Rs30 per passenger, while transporters on surrounding routes have raised fares by Rs50.

Long-route transporters have increased fares by Rs100 to Rs150 per passenger.

Ahead of Eid, people planning to travel to their hometowns to celebrate with their families have been hit hard, as the round-trip travel budget for families has increased by Rs5,000 to Rs10,000.

Throughout the day, disputes were reported between passengers and conductors over the increased fares, while some passengers who refused to pay extra were asked to get off vehicles.

Pick-and-drop services for students and working women have also increased fares by 30 to 40 per cent and demanded immediate payment, prompting some parents to consider alternative arrangements.

Goods transporters have also raised freight charges sharply. The cost of transporting goods containers from Karachi to Peshawar has increased from Rs0.26 million to around Rs0.4 million. Transport charges for grocery merchants from Faisalabad and Sargodha markets to Rawalpindi have increased by Rs30,000 to Rs40,000.

As a result, the prices of pulses, rice and white chickpeas are expected to increase by up to Rs15 per kilogram. Transport costs have also pushed up prices of milk, meat and chicken by about 20 per cent. Pick-and-drop transporters have demanded revised fares from March 9, leaving many parents worried.

Leaders of various trade associations have requested Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema to convene a meeting of the price control committee to determine new prices.

Transport terminals have cancelled advance bookings for Eid travel from Rawalpindi and Islamabad to long-distance routes including Lahore, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Kohat, Bannu and Sialkot, and have started demanding higher fares.

Transporters have also increased goods transport charges by 35 per cent for Azad Kashmir, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock and Murree.

Meanwhile, ride services and rickshaws have also increased fares. Motorcycle ride fares have risen from Rs100 to Rs150, while rickshaw fares from Raja Bazaar and Moti Bazaar to Saddar have doubled from Rs600 to Rs1,200. Qingqi rickshaws have increased the local fare from Rs30 to Rs50 per passenger. Public transport fares have also increased on intercity routes.