LAHORE: The Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA)—a subsidiary of the Transport and Masstransit Department—is working out a plan to increase fares of the Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, Lahore Metro Bus Service (Green Line) and all feeder routes.

A working paper, in this regard, is likely to be submitted in the upcoming meeting of the authority, Dawn has learnt.

“The increase in the fares is the need of the hour, keeping in view the increasing operational and maintenance cost. The last increase in the fares of the Orange Line was made around two years ago. Prior to this, the metro bus fares were increased around seven years ago,” a senior official of the authority explained to Dawn on Sunday.

“A working paper, in this regard, is likely to be submitted in the upcoming meeting of the authority,” the official, requesting anonymity, said, adding that the current fares of the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system were also higher than Lahore.

PMA making plan to increase fares of Orange Line, metro bus and feeder buses; govt spends Rs21bn on subsidy each year on mass transit systems in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan

The Orange Line Metro Train Project in Lahore was launched in 2015 during the tenure of the then PML-N government. Since its commercial operation was scheduled to begin in 2018, it couldn’t be done due to various political, legal and administrative issues during the PTI government tenure that started in 2018. However, after a delay of two years, the project was completed finally with start of commercial operation in October, 2020.

Similarly, the Lahore Metro Bus Service was completed in 2013, a couple of months before the 2013 general election. At the time of the launch, the metro bus fare was fixed as Rs20 for the entire 27km long route (Gajjumata to Shahdara). It was increased to Rs30 in 2018. Similarly, the Orange Line fares were increased in December 2023 from Rs40 to Rs45 with introduction of distance-based fares (Rs5 increase after every four stations).

“Once approved by the authority, the summary for increase (Rs30 to Rs40 for Metro Bus, Rs45 to Rs50 for Orange Line and Rs5 for the feeder routes/Speedo buses) in the fares would be moved to the chief minister through the transport department. After approval by the CM, the case would be submitted to the cabinet for final approval after which the new fares would be enforced,” the officer said while explaining the procedure in this regard.

To a question, the official said the total subsidy being given by the government for Lahore Orange Line, metro bus and Speedo buses and metro bus projects in Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Multan is amounting to Rs21bn annually and the fares currently being charged hardly contributed around 24pc of the total cost incurring on the operation and maintenance. It means that the government is bearing over 75pc expenditures of these projects. He added that previously, the fares contribution percentage was 32pc that dropped to 24pc due to increase in the operation and maintenance cost.

“The subsidy being provided for the Lahore Orange Line amounts to Rs8bn annually as the electricity cost is a major expense of this project. Rs2.75bn are being provided as subsidy for Lahore metro bus, followed by Rs2.5bn for the transport system on feeder routes (Speedo bus etc),” he said while responding to a question revealed and added that the increase in fare might help the government in bringing down the subsidy amount.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2025