ISLAMABAD: Pakistani federal and provincial authorities announced multi-level relief on Friday to protect consumers from surging fuel costs, rolling out free transport, fare freezes and targeted subsidies even as the government grappled with high petroleum prices driven by the Iran war.
The measures come after two major fuel price increases within a short span — a Rs55 per liter hike in March and a sharper increase on Thursday that pushed petrol to Rs458.41 and diesel to Rs520.35 — levels that remain elevated despite a subsequent cut of Rs80 in the petrol levy announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday night.
In Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said public transport would be made free for 30 days, with the government bearing a cost of Rs350 million ($1.26 million).
“On the directions of the Prime Minister, all public transport in Islamabad will be made free of cost for the general public for the next 30 days,” he said in a social media post.
Pakistan Railways said fares would not be increased despite rising diesel costs, with the government absorbing an estimated Rs6 billion ($21.6 million) burden to avoid passing on the impact to passengers and freight operators.
