Fare adjustments will take effect from March 9 for all freight and passenger services
Pakistan Railways on Saturday announced fare increases for both passenger and freight trains following a rise in diesel prices.
A day earlier, the government sharply increased diesel and petrol prices by Rs55 per litre, or 20 per cent — marking the first in a series of similar surges expected in the coming days due to the ongoing US-Israel and Iran conflict, which has disrupted supply chains and pushed crude oil prices to a two-year high.
ڈیزل قیمتوں میں 20 فیصد اضافے کے بعد ٹرینوں کے کرایوں میں اضافہ
پاکستان ریلویز کا اکانومی کلاس کے کرایوں میں 5 فیصد اضافے کا فیصلہ
اے سی کلاسز کے کرایوں میں 10 فیصد اضافہ کیا گیا ہے
مال گاڑیوں کے کرایوں میں 20 فیصد اضافہ کیا گیا ہے
اضافے کا اطلاق 9 مارچ سے ہو گا
— Pakistan Railways (@PakrailPK) March 7, 2026
According to a Pakistan Railways spokesperson, economy-class fares will rise by 5 per cent, Freight train rates will increase by 20 per cent while air-conditioned classes will see a 10 per cent increase.
“Passenger train operational costs due to the diesel price hike will be borne by Pakistan Railways itself,” the spokesperson added.
The fare adjustments will take effect from March 9 for all freight and passenger services, but will not apply to bookings already made, the spokesperson said.
“The increase in train fares was inevitable following the rise in diesel prices,” he added.
A sharp increase of Rs55 per litre in petroleum prices has intensified the cost of living, with residents reporting higher transport fares and rising prices of daily-use items.
People also reported disputes at petrol pumps, where attendants were refusing to dispense fuel worth less than one litre. According to residents, many customers asked for petrol worth Rs150 or Rs200, but pump staff declined, saying the nozzle rate is fixed and fuel is either dispensed in smaller or larger quantities, leading to frequent arguments.
The rise in petrol prices also pushed up the cost of fruits, vegetables and other daily necessities. Shopkeepers said the transport cost of bringing fruits, vegetables and goods had previously been around Rs1,000 per trip but had now increased to between Rs2,500 and Rs3,000.
Drivers providing pick-and-drop services for schoolchildren have also raised their fares, with residents saying the entire burden has shifted to the public.
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Citizens said the price increase had made life increasingly difficult, adding that they were struggling to choose between buying fuel and meeting basic household needs.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, residents, including Amir, Babar, Intikhab, Zahoor and Rashid, said salaries were already low while inflation continued to rise.
Amir said he previously bought petrol worth Rs1,000, which lasted about 15 days, but now the same amount would not last even four days.
Rashid, who works in loading and unloading, said work was already scarce and questioned how much more people could afford to pay in transport charges.
