ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) — The Ministry of Railways has significantly slashed fares of railway saloons on the instructions of Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, giving long-distance travellers much-needed relief at a time when transport costs have been going through the roof.
Under the revised rates, the Karachi–Rawalpindi saloon fare has been cut from Rs 500,000 to Rs 172,000, while the Karachi–Lahore fare has been reduced from Rs 420,000 to Rs 150,000.
Similarly, the Lahore–Rawalpindi saloon fare has come down sharply from Rs 105,000 to Rs 44,000.
Passengers can now book the saloons directly from divisional offices, while bookings through headquarters can be made via the office of the Chief Commercial Manager.
The decision followed a high-level meeting chaired by Minister Hanif Abbasi, where officials gave a detailed briefing on railway police performance and ongoing enforcement actions.
The minister was told that the ticket-checking campaign has been tightened up to curb fare evasion. Hanif Abbasi made it crystal clear that anyone travelling without a ticket — and anyone helping them — will be sent behind bars in line with the law. He directed teams to keep up the pressure and maintain strict action.
Officials further briefed that the railway police have intensified operations against theft, smuggling and other crimes, while the anti-encroachment drive is fully active and clearing railway land from long-standing illegal occupation.
Every inch of railway-owned land is being reclaimed, the meeting was informed.