LAHORE: Pakistan Railways (PR) on Thursday announced reduction in the fares of all passenger trains.

The reduction will be applicable to all classes, according to PR Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amir Ali Baloch.

He says the AC class fares have been reduced by Rs100 to Rs150 (per ticket), while of the economy class by Rs50.

The new fares will be applicable from Aug 3, the CEO adds.

“It has never been our priority to earn profit from passenger trains, as we charge fares just to meet our operational cost,” Mr Baloch says in a press release.

He says the train operations have been affected by rains and floods, but significant improvements are expected once the weather stabilises.

According to him, a heavy fine has been imposed on a railway contractor who was caught storing ice in a train restroom.

He says the PR plans to invest in busy sections across the country, including Dadu and Larkana. He hopes the approval of the ML-1 project by the government will bring betterment in the railways.

“Based on our strong performance, the ministry has set a revenue target of over Rs100 billion,” the CEO adds.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024