Sindh govt announces no increase in public transport fares

KARACHI: The Sindh Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, declared on Sunday that public transport fares throughout the province will stay the same because rising fuel prices and regional economic challenges create difficulties for commuters.

The chief minister announced at a press conference in Karachi that he had instructed the transport department on Monday to maintain current fare rates.

The Sindh Chief Minister confirmed that transport stakeholders reached an agreement, which established that fare rates would remain unchanged at the February 28 level.

The decision exists because global and domestic fuel prices experience sharp price fluctuations. The petrol price reached Rs. 458.41 per litre after a major price hike, and high-speed diesel costs now Rs. 520.35 per litre.

The federal government lowered petrol prices to Rs. 378 per litre for one month and reduced the petroleum levy by Rs. 80 per litre. The Sindh chief minister announced that transporters would support the government’s position because the provincial administration would pay for their expected financial damages.

He declared that registered buses would receive Rs. 100,000 per vehicle, and the company would pay for their extra operational expenses. The official data shows that Sindh operates about 470 government buses, while the province has approximately 11,000 active buses running throughout its transport system.

CM Shah warned that the authorities would take strong measures against unregistered transport operators who tried to increase their fares. He urged transport operators to complete their registration process so they could access subsidies and support.

He emphasized that targeted subsidies provide the best assistance to low-income groups because these measures deliver direct help to undeserving people.