Lahore cuts transport fares by 5% after diesel price drop

LAHORE: Lahore commuters can now breathe a sigh of relief as public and goods transport fares have been reduced by 5% following the recent reduction in the prices of High Speed Diesel (HSD).

The decision was taken on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who stressed that the benefits of lower fuel prices should be directly passed on to the masses. The DC has been tasked with ensuring that the new fares are implemented across the city.

The latest fare lists need to be prominently displayed at bus stands, stops and all public transport vehicles. Enforcement squads have already taken action against violators, 10 vehicles have been seized, seven challans have been issued, and a total of Rs80,000 in fines have been collected. Commuters can report issues through the Transport and Mass Transit Department’s helpline 1071.

The fare cut comes after the recent announcement of petrol and diesel prices, as the government reduced diesel prices by Rs 12.84 per litre for the next two weeks, while petrol prices remained unchanged. Since HSD powers most buses, trucks, trains and agricultural machinery, the move is expected to help curb the rising costs of daily commuters and reduce the cost of essential commodities.

According to the official notification, the new HSD price is Rs 272.99 per litre, petrol remains at Rs 264.61, and the prices of high kerosene and light diesel oil have been reduced by Rs 7.19 and Rs 8.20 per litre, respectively.