Pakistan offers free public transport in Islamabad

Pakistan’s government announced that all public transport in Islamabad will be free of charge for the next 30 days, starting April 4, amid fuel price hikes prompted by the Middle East conflict.

“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. ,” Federal Interior Minister and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi wrote on X, Caliber.Az reports.

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…

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) April 3, 2026

He added that the Ministry of Interior will bear the expenditure of Rs. 350 million ($1.2 million) for this public relief initiative. 

The country has increased fuel prices on April 2, hiking the price of petrol per liter to 458.4 Pakistani rupees ($1.64) from 321.17 ($1.15), and high-speed diesel to 520.35 rupees ($1.86) from 335.86 ($1.20).

The developments come as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and gas shipments, has sharply declined amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

About 20 million barrels of oil pass through the strait daily, and its disruption has driven up oil prices as well as shipping and insurance costs, fueling global economic concerns.

By Sabina Mammadli