LAHORE: The finance ministry has allowed the railways to increase passenger fares by 10 to 25 per cent and freight charges by 30 per cent.

“The fares will be increased in about 10 days,” officials said here on Thursday.

The fares of all classes in passenger trains will rise by 10 per cent, for inter-city trains by 15 per cent, express trains 20 per cent and non-stop trains 25 per cent.

The passenger fares were raised by eight to 15 per cent and freight charges by five per cent in July.

The fares were earlier increased in 2008 and 2004.

On Dec 15, 2005, a fuel adjustment surcharge of up to Rs30 per ticket was added to the fare. About two weeks later, the ceiling was raised to Rs35. In May 2006, the charge was increased by Rs10 to Rs30. The surcharge on economy class tickets for a journey exceeding 1,250km was reduced on June 11, 2006.