The Punjab government has announced a major expansion of its free public transport initiative, extending the service to 17 districts across the province as part of its ongoing relief efforts.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where officials reviewed transport fares in light of recent fuel price hikes.
As part of the initial phase, pilot projects have been approved for Gujranwala, Multan, and Sialkot. Authorities have also been directed to submit a detailed report within 24 hours on per-kilometer fares to finalize the broader implementation strategy.
This move builds on the government’s earlier relief package, which made travel free on key urban transit systems, including Metro Bus, Orange Line, Speedo Bus, and Green Electric Buses. The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on commuters affected by rising fuel costs.
A similar step was recently taken in Islamabad, where public transport was made free for 30 days following a sharp increase in fuel prices.
With this expansion, the Punjab government is set to extend its subsidy model beyond major cities, bringing relief to a wider population across multiple districts.
