Pakistan Railways has suspended the proposal for increase in its fares and the matter was put before the executive committee for final approval.
The decision to increase rail fares was taken in view of three-time increase in the prices of petroleum products, which has put extra burden of more than Rs 1.17 billion on Pakistan Railways financial setup, sources in Pakistan Railways said here on Saturday.
They told Business Recorder that it was expected that the notification regarding increase in fares would be issued on Saturday, November 12, but due to pressure from some circles the decision was suspended and the matter was put before the executive committee for approval.
"It is imperative to increase the railway fares, and if the increase was not made it would cause more financial pressure on the Railways system because increase in POL prices has caused Rs 1.17 billion extra burden on the organisation," sources said.
According to the proposal, sources said, Rs 5 would be increased on distances up to 100 km, Rs 15 on distances up to 500 km and Rs 20 on more than 500 km. They said that there was also a proposal of overall increase of 6 percent, which was turned down.
He said that the increase would have been on all classes. PR officials said that after increase the economy class ticket of Railcar (non-stop) from Rawalpindi to Lahore would be Rs 165 in place of Rs 150; lower AC in the train would be Rs 285 in place of Rs 270, while AC sleeper fare would be Rs 395 in place of Rs 380. The ticket of the economy class in the Railcar (night coach) from Rawalpindi to Lahore would be Rs 125 in place of Rs 110. The ticket of lower AC in the train would be Rs 225 in place of Rs 210 while the AC sleeper ticket would cost Rs 345 in place of Rs 330.
They said that the ticket of economy class in Karachi Express from Lahore to Karachi would be Rs 750 in place of Rs 730. The ticket of lower AC in the train would be Rs 1540 in place of Rs 1520 while the AC sleeper ticket would be Rs 2380 in place of Rs 2360.