Islamabad, June 17, 2025: Public transport fares in Rawalpindi have increases across urban, suburban, and intercity routes after a sharp jump in petrol and diesel rates. Passengers commuting on local routes and between the twin cities—Rawalpindi and Islamabad—are now paying Rs20 to Rs30 extra per trip. Those covering longer distances are facing fare hikes ranging from Rs40 to Rs50 per person.
In parallel with road transport, Pakistan Railways has also raised ticket prices for its train services. The sudden surge in transportation costs has sparked tension between passengers and operators in both cities.
Qingqi rickshaw rides now cost Rs10 more, while bike-hailing platforms like Bykea have upped their charges from Rs100 to Rs130 per journey. Public carriers, including Suzuki vans and Bykea operating on routes such as Fawara Chowk to Bhara Kahu, Rawat, Adiala Road, Pirwadhai, Sihala, Golra Sharif, and Chaklala Airport, have similarly increased their rates by Rs20.
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Additional fare adjustments ranging from Rs10 to Rs20 per commuter have also been observed on routes such as Saddar to Adiala Jail, Taxila, Rawat, Kahuta, and Kutchery.
Several riders have expressed dissatisfaction, noting that transporters are quick to revise rates upward with fuel hikes but reluctant to reduce them when prices drop. “They charged an extra Rs10 from Raja Bazaar to Morgah, and there’s still no official notification of the fare hike,” shared a traveler, Asghar Ali.
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Asif Khan, Vice President of the Transport Federation, justified the move. “When fuel prices go up, everything becomes more expensive—maintenance, tires, spare parts. We’re already bearing huge costs. Toll fees, traffic fines, and even unofficial expenses have doubled or tripled. We can’t keep operating at a loss,” he explained.
