Mohsin Naqvi announces free public transport in Islamabad for a month

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced that public transport will be free in Islamabad for a month, reported 24NewsHD TV Channel. 

Interior Minister made this announcement on his social media handle on X. He wrote that "on the directions of the Prime Minister, all public transport in Islamabad will be made free of cost for the general public for the next 30 days, starting tomorrow. The Ministry of Interior will bear the expenditure of Rs. 350 million for this public relief initiative. Thank you for your attention to this matter".

Interior Minister Naqvi made this announcement after the government on Thursday announced an unprecedented increase of 43 per cent and 55pc in the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD), respectively. 

Earlier, Punjab government also announced free public transport services within all cities across the province as part of a major relief package.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while unveiling the package, said that financial assistance would be provided to protect agriculture, food, and farmers. A subsidy of Rs 100 per liter per acre on diesel will be given to farmers.

Under the relief package, citizens will not have to purchase tickets while traveling on Orange Line Train, Metro Bus Service, Speedo Bus, and Green Electric Bus. The government has also decided to provide subsidies to motorcyclists, under which every registered bike owner will receive Rs 100 subsidy on 20 liters of fuel.