Pakistan Railways has announced a new fare increase for passenger trains. Starting Friday, July 19, the fares for all services, including economy, AC standard, AC business, and AC parlor classes, will increase by 1%. This change affects mail, express, and intercity trains and those operated through public-private partnerships.
The Railways Department has instructed all divisional superintendents to update the fare tables accordingly. This move follows a recent rise in petroleum prices. Despite a previous decrease in fuel costs, passengers did not see any fare reductions.
Just weeks ago, Pakistan Railways also increased freight rates by 3%, effective from July 3. However, this did not affect commodities like steel coils and petroleum products.
Despite these increases, Pakistan Railways reported a record revenue of Rs 88 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24. This exceeded their original target of Rs 73 billion. The new fare hike aims to maintain this positive financial momentum.
Passengers are advised to check the updated fare tables and plan accordingly. This fare increase reflects ongoing adjustments to operating costs and aims to ensure the continued efficiency of rail services across the country.
