In a major relief for Islamabad’s daily commuters, the federal government has withdrawn the recent increase in metro bus fares, bringing the cost back to Rs50.
The rollback comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif intervened, calling the fare hike “unjustified” just days before Eid-ul-Adha.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had earlier announced that fares across all metro bus services—including the Orange, Green, Blue, and Electric lines—would double from Rs50 to Rs100 starting June 1.
The decision faced immediate backlash from citizens, media outlets, and civil society, as it threatened to affect over 90,000 daily passengers.
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Reports about the planned fare hike surfaced as early as May 24, prompting criticism that intensified after the official notification was issued on June 1. Public reaction led to swift political response.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, who reportedly said that raising public transport fares amid high inflation would add to people’s struggles and dampen Eid celebrations.
Responding to the PM’s orders, the CDA canceled the fare hike through a fresh notification. The fare for all government-run metro bus services in Islamabad has now officially been restored to Rs50.
