In a welcome move for thousands of daily commuters, the federal government has rolled back the 100% increase in metro bus fares for Islamabad, restoring the fare back to Rs50.
The decision was made on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, just days after the controversial hike came into effect.
Earlier, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had notified an increase in metro bus fares from Rs50 to Rs100, starting June 1. The fare hike applied to all government-run bus services in the capital, including the Orange, Green, Blue, and Electric bus lines.
The move had triggered widespread criticism from the public and media, particularly ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, as it would have impacted over 90,000 daily passengers.
Samaa TV had first reported the proposed fare increase on May 24, well before the official notification, prompting media and public pressure that led the CDA to temporarily suspend the hike. However, a formal notification was still issued on June 1, drawing renewed backlash.
Following public reaction and media coverage, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held an emergency meeting with the prime minister to discuss the issue. PM Shehbaz termed the fare increase “unjustified” and said it would “spoil the joys of Eid for the people”.
“The citizens are already burdened with inflation. Such a fare hike right before Eid is unacceptable,” the Prime Minister reportedly told officials, directing the CDA to withdraw the increase immediately.
In compliance with the PM’s instructions, the CDA issued a fresh notification canceling the fare hike. The bus fare for all metro lines in Islamabad has officially been fixed again at Rs 50, bringing relief to daily commuters across the federal capital.
