Getting around Pakistan was 7.9pc cheaper in September than in May, according to a new index.

The Mobility Index, launched by Pakistan & Counting, in partnership with ride-sharing operator BusCaro, measures per-kilometre travel costs across eight modes of transport: own bike (petrol), private rickshaw, own car (petrol), public transport (per seat), ride-share (per seat), and ride-hailing bike, rickshaw and car.

The index fell from 100 in May to 92.1 in September. For the average vehicle on the road, a kilometre cost was Rs9.65 in September, compared with Rs10.48 in May. The lower reading was due to cheaper petrol, which averaged Rs374.61 per litre in September, 7.5pc below May’s Rs405.19. This was due to the energy price spike amid the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting supply chain bottlenecks.

For a Honda CD70 rider, the fuel cost of a kilometre fell from Rs7.37 in May to Rs6.81 in September. Running a car cost Rs24.78 per km, down from Rs26.80, and a private rickshaw cost Rs11.71 per km, down from Rs12.66.

Public transport went the other way, though fares did not rise. All four of Punjab’s BRT services were free from early April until June 12. Therefore, May records no fare on them.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, October 26th, 2026