Transport fares in Rawalpindi have been reduced following a significant decline in petroleum prices, providing relief to passengers and businesses. Local passenger fares have been cut by 12%, intercity fares by 5%, and goods transportation charges by 10%.
The reduction follows a decrease of Rs. 39.91 per litre in petrol prices and Rs. 31.96 per litre in high-speed diesel prices over the past 10 days. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir directed transport operators to revise fares in line with the lower fuel costs.
Regional Transport Authority Secretary Syed Asad Abbas Shirazi also held a meeting with transport operators and instructed them to implement the revised fares immediately. The district administration has urged citizens to report overcharging by transporters through helpline 1071.
Meanwhile, petroleum dealers have called for a forensic audit of oil refineries’ profits, claiming that a transparent review could create room for a further reduction of up to Rs. 50 per litre in petrol prices.
The demand was raised during an emergency meeting of petroleum dealers in Karachi, where participants discussed refinery earnings and petroleum pricing. Dealers, including Malik Khuda Bakhsh and Anwar Kamal, called for an audit of all refineries to determine their actual profits.
Malik Khuda Bakhsh claimed that refineries had earned profits equivalent to a full year’s earnings in just three months. He said a forensic audit would help establish the actual financial position of the companies and identify potential relief for consumers.
