The federal government has ordered a transport fares review to determine whether passengers are being overcharged following repeated increases in petrol and diesel prices.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Authorities have been directed to compare current public transport fares with rates charged after previous fuel-price increases.
The review aims to establish whether fare hikes are in line with rising operating costs or place an excessive burden on commuters.
Ahsan Iqbal directed the relevant authorities to examine changes in transport fares alongside previous increases in fuel prices.
Transport operators have cited higher fuel costs, vehicle maintenance and spare-parts expenses as reasons for raising fares. The government’s review will assess whether the increases in passenger charges are proportionate to those additional costs.
However, officials have not announced any immediate reduction in fares or introduced a new fare schedule. Any further action will depend on the findings of the review.
On 9 October, petrol prices were increased to Rs398.96 per litre, while high-speed diesel reached Rs395.72 per litre, according to the figures cited in the report.
Higher fuel prices have put pressure on transport operators and commuters. Fares on several routes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad had also increased in September following earlier fuel-price hikes.
Rising diesel costs can have a significant impact on bus and other passenger transport services. Higher freight charges may also affect the prices of food and other essential goods.
The review could help the government determine whether transport fares have risen beyond what higher operating costs would justify.
The committee has also directed provincial authorities to monitor wholesale and retail prices and investigate unjustified increases.
For commuters, however, the outcome remains uncertain. The government has ordered an assessment of existing fares, but no fare reduction has been announced so far.
Authorities will need to complete the comparison before any decision is made on whether transport charges should be revised.
