WEBDESK: Pakistan Railways has once again increased train fares for passengers, marking the second rise in just two weeks. The decision comes after a sharp increase in petrol and diesel prices for July 2025.
According to an official notification issued on Wednesday, train fares will go up by 2 per cent from July 4. This follows an earlier 3 percent hike in train fares announced on June 18.
Train Fares Up Again: Pakistan Railways Blames Diesel Costs
According to the railway officials, the high cost of diesel currently experienced has initiated a huge burden on the department financially. They argued that increment of train fares was inevitable due to rising operational expenditure.
The new rates will apply to all passenger, express, and mail trains starting Thursday. Advance bookings will also be charged according to the updated train fares.
Officials revealed that Pakistan Railways has been facing a monthly loss of around Rs 109 million due to the rising fuel costs. The recent increase in petrol and diesel prices has made it difficult for the department to continue operations without adjusting train fares.
In a related move, the government raised fuel prices for the first half of July 2025. The new petrol price now stands at Rs 272.98 per litre, while high-speed diesel has reached Rs 266.79 per litre.
The Finance Division announced on Monday an increase in the price of the petrol by Rs8.36 per litre starting July 1 citing changes in international crude oil prices, which would remain unchanged during the next fortnight. On June 16, 2025, petrol and high speed diesel increased by Rs4.80 and Rs7.95 respectively per litre.
Bearing the latest increment, petrol will now be sold at Rs266.79 per litre, as opposed to Rs258.43. The price of high speed diesel (HSD) was likewise expanded by Rs10.39 to attain Rs272.98 as opposed to Rs262.59 per litre as demonstrated in a notification.
The federal government announced these new rates based on recommendations from OGRA and other ministries.
This continuous rise in fuel prices has added extra pressure on the public, with households already battling high inflation. Now, with another increase in train fares, many commuters are left with limited affordable travel options.
