In a major relief for public transport users in the federal capital, the recent doubling of metro bus fares has been overturned, with the standard fare reinstated at Rs50.
The rollback came following instructions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who intervened shortly after the fare revision drew sharp public criticism.
Initially, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had announced a fare increase from Rs50 to Rs100 for all state-operated metro bus services, including the Orange, Green, Blue, and Electric lines, effective from June 1. The hike sparked backlash, particularly as it coincided with the lead-up to Eid-ul-Adha—a period of heavy travel for over 90,000 daily riders.
Reports of the fare adjustment first surfaced in late May, with media outlets raising alarms over its potential impact. Despite this, a formal notification confirming the new rates was issued, reigniting public outrage.
Responding to the growing discontent, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with the premier to review the situation. PM Shehbaz reportedly criticized the timing and necessity of the decision, calling it insensitive given the current economic stress on citizens.
According to sources, the prime minister emphasized that increasing transport costs so close to a major festival would place unnecessary strain on people already coping with inflation. He ordered an immediate cancellation of the fare hike.
Following his directives, the CDA released a revised notification nullifying the earlier increase. All metro bus services across Islamabad have now resumed charging the previous fare of Rs50, providing much-needed ease for routine passengers.
