Bus fares from Karachi to Lahore have increased following the rise in petroleum prices in the country.
Fares have increased from around Rs5,000 to Rs8,000 or more, with transport operators saying the rising fuel costs are significantly affecting their business.
Transporters have also threatened to take their buses off the roads if the government fails to reduce diesel prices.
According to fares listed on the Bookme website, Daewoo Express charges Rs9,200 for a Karachi-to-Lahore journey, while Kainat Express fares start from Rs7,550.
The driving distance from Karachi to Lahore is approximately 1,205 kilometers (747 miles) via the Sukkur- Multan Motorway (M-5), taking around 13 to 15 hours depending on traffic.
The air distance from Lahore to Karachi is about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
On September 11, the government increased the price of petrol by Rs5.02 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs5.28 per litre. Petrol will retail at Rs375.82 per litre while HSD will cost Rs403.32 per litre.
On July 17, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US.
Petrol is mainly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers, and changes in its price affect the middle and lower-middle classes.