Pakistan announces free public transport as energy crisis bites

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

The Pakistan government has announced that state-run public transport in Islamabad and the Punjab province will be free for the next 30 days, effective Saturday. This measure is intended to provide immediate relief to citizens following a massive overnight hike in fuel prices, which saw petrol rise by 42.7 percent and diesel by 54.9 percent. 

The price surge, triggered by global energy instability and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has led to widespread protests and long queues at fuel stations across the country.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the federal government would bear a financial burden of approximately 350 million rupees(1.25million USD)  to subsidize the free transit in the capital. 

Simultaneously, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif waived fares for all government-run transport services in the province including the Lahore Metro and electric bus fleets while also announcing targeted subsidies for farmers and truck operators. 

In Sindh, the provincial government in Karachi introduced similar relief measures specifically for motorcyclists and small-scale farmers to cushion the impact of the price hikes.

These developments come as Pakistan navigates a severe energy crisis exacerbated by shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. To further conserve fuel, the government has implemented several austerity measures, including a four-day work week for public offices and the extension of school holidays.

While officials maintain that these subsidies are necessary to protect the most vulnerable populations, critics and protesters in cities like Lahore have labeled the sudden price increases a ‘petrol bomb,’ demanding a reversal of the decision and a reduction in inflationary pressure.