Second increase in railways' fares in a week.

LAHORE -- The Pakistan Railways (PR) is likely to further increase the fares and freight charges of the express and goods' trains from June 21 following repeated hike in the petroleum products' prices.

There is no plan to increase the fares for those travelling by local passenger trains on short-distance routes originating from various stations across the country, Dawn has learnt.

'At a high-level meeting held on Saturday, it has been decided in principle to increase fares / charges of all express / mail trains by 5 per cent and freight trains by 10 per cent. The new fares / charges are likely to be implemented with effect from June 21 (Tuesday),' an official told Dawn. 'It is due to oil prices being increased by the government,' the official said on the request of anonymity.

The PR, while keeping in view the increasing oil prices and other financial constraints, had earlier on June 14 increased the fares of all express passenger trains by 10 per cent and freight charges of all goods' trains by 15pc. However, it dropped the idea of increasing fares of local passenger trains to give relief to a large number of workers / labourers, salaried class etc travelling by these trains for doing jobs in various cities.

According to the minister for railways, the organisation due to increasing oil prices is bearing a massive financial impact of Rs8 billion which is not possible without increasing fares and freight charges. 'Since we are left with no option, we have decided to increase fares of all express passenger trains by 10pc and freight trains by 15pc,' Khwaja Saad Rafique had said at a press conference on June 14.

He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government for causing massive destruction of the PR which, according to him, was in profit during the PML-N's 2013-18 regime.

The PR reportedly requires more than 1.5 million litres of oil (diesel) worth Rs20 billion...