CHITRAL, Feb 22: The Pakistan International Airlines has increased its fare for the Peshawar-Chitral route by 80 per cent.

The fare for adults has been increased from Rs1,990 to Rs3,570. The new fares for children, infants and students are Rs1,850, Rs350 and Rs2,710, respectively. For the first class passengers, the fare has been raised from Rs2,310 to Rs4,720.

Local passengers have criticised the decision, saying that very few people of the backward district would be able to afford the new fares and there was no alternative service for them.

Member of the National

Assembly from Chitral Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali told Dawn that he would raise the issue in the house and press the government to withdraw the decision.

He said the fares should have been kept at the minimum level till the construction of the Lowari tunnel.