Railways fares go up by 10-20pc
LAHORE: Following a green signal by the federal cabinet, the Pakistan Railways decided on Saturday to raise passenger fares and freight charges by margins ranging between 10 and 20 per cent.
The fares for short distance and shuttle passenger trains will go up by 10 per cent, inter-city, mail and express by 15pc, non-stop by 20pc and freight charges by 20pc.The minimum distance limit has been increased from 20 kilometres to 40kms.
The minimum fare for the economy class will be Rs25 and that of second class Rs20.
General Manager (operations) Ishfaq Khattak told journalists at the railways headquarters that the revision of train fares had become inevitable after the hike in POL prices and increase in salaries of employees.
“Increase in fares has been made in accordance with train services and taking into consideration financial limitations of people,” he said.
Mr Khattak said that rail fares were not increased after 2008 when diesel was less than Rs50 per litre.
He said that financial burden on railways rose after hike in electricity and gas charges, in addition to 50pc rise in the salaries of employees.
He said that freight charges were lower than market rates even after the increase.
“We have nominally increased freight charges and consider revision of the same,” he said.
Source: Dawn
Date:1/30/2011
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