Web Desk: Pakistan Railways has initiated internal discussions to increase train fares by more than 10% following a sharp rise in petroleum product prices. This move comes as the national carrier struggles to absorb the financial impact of a 55 PKR per liter hike in diesel costs.
The railway system consumes approximately 350,000 liters of diesel daily to maintain its nationwide operations. Consequently, the recent price surge has added an immediate financial burden of 19.25 million PKR to the department’s daily expenditures.
According to railway officials, the hike represents a massive increase in operational overheads. Specifically, authorities estimate that the department must now spend an additional 577.5 million PKR per month solely on fuel. Therefore, officials argue that a fare adjustment is necessary to keep the rail network functional and offset these rising costs.
This potential increase follows a broader trend in the country’s transport sector. For instance, public transporters have already raised their fares by as much as 850 PKR for various inter-city routes. Similarly, the railway administration believes that maintaining current pricing is no longer sustainable under the new fuel regime.
As the government reviews the proposal, commuters expect a formal announcement regarding the new fare structure in the coming days. However, the department has not yet finalized the exact date for the implementation of the higher rates.
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