Pakistan Railways Cuts Fares for All Passenger Trains

Pakistan Railways (PR) has announced a reduction in fares for all passenger trains, effective August 3. This decision, aimed at making train travel more affordable, applies to all classes of service.

According to PR Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amir Ali Baloch, the fares for the AC class have been reduced by Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 per ticket, while the economy class fares have been cut by Rs. 50 per ticket. This move follows the recent announcement of a fare hike and comes shortly after the federal government reduced petroleum prices.

Baloch stated that the primary goal of passenger train fares is to cover operational costs rather than generate profit. He noted that train operations have been impacted by rains and floods, but improvements are expected as weather conditions stabilize.

In addition to the fare reductions, a heavy fine has been imposed on a railway contractor caught storing ice in a train restroom. PR also plans to invest in busy sections across the country, including Dadu and Larkana. The CEO expressed hope that the government’s approval of the ML-1 project will lead to significant improvements in railway services.

Furthermore, the ministry has set a revenue target of over Rs. 100 billion based on PR’s strong performance. In a recent crackdown on ticket-less passengers, the railways collected over Rs. 76 million from 59,143 passengers traveling without tickets, with the help of railway police and train staffers. This amount has been deposited into the official bank account of the department.