ISLAMABAD: The government has announced free public transport across the capital for the next 30 days. This is to help people cope with the sharp rise in fuel prices.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi made the announcement on Friday. He said all public transport in Islamabad will be free of cost for the general public starting tomorrow (April 4, 2026).
The ministry will bear the full cost of the scheme. It amounts to 350 million Pakistani rupees (about $1.2 million).
This decision comes just one day after the government increased petrol and diesel prices significantly. On Thursday, petrol price was raised to Rs458.4 per litre (from Rs321.17). High-speed diesel rose to Rs520.35 per litre (from Rs335.86).
The minister said the move is aimed at easing the burden on citizens amid rising fuel costs. These increases are caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
