LAHORE, Aug 1: Rail fares have been increased by Rs10 to Rs35, two days after Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad’s claim that there was no such move on the cards.

A senior officer of the Pakistan Railways told this reporter on Wednesday that passengers travelling between Lahore and Karachi in lower AC class would be paying Rs2,000, instead of Rs1,975 and in AC sleeper Rs2,215, instead of Rs2,185, between Rawalpindi and Karachi in AC sleeper Rs2,600, instead of Rs2,565, between Lahore and Narowal Rs50, instead of Rs40, between Lahore and Sialkot Rs100, instead of Rs75, between Quetta and Chamman Rs100, instead of Rs85.

Samjhota Express passengers would be paying Rs100, instead of Rs85, said the officer who wished not to be named.

Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad had said at a news conference at the Pakistan Railways headquarters on July 30, there would be no increase in rail fares.

“Instead, we are discussing modalities to provide further relief to the poor,” the minister had told a questioner.

It may be mentioned that the railways had added a fuel adjustment surcharge of up to Rs30 per ticket in its fares from December 15, 2005.

Two week later on December 31, the fuel surcharge was further ‘adjusted’ and its ceiling was raised from Rs30 to Rs35 per ticket.

The surcharge was being charged at a rate of Rs5 on a journey of 51 to 100 kilometres, from 101 to 150 kms the surcharge was Rs10, from 151 to 300 kms Rs15, from 301 to 600 kms Rs20, from 601 to 1,000 kms Rs30 and Rs35 for a journey above 1,000 kilometres. No surcharge was being charged for a journey up to 50 km.