Qurbani gets costlier on Eid ul Azha 2026 as Transport Fares rise amid fuel shock

KARACHI – Pakistan’s transport crisis is deepening as transporters announced around 10 percent increase in fares after the government’s latest fuel price hike, triggering fears of another wave of inflation across the country. The increase is expected to hit millions of commuters hard, especially at a time when households are already struggling with soaring food prices, expensive utilities, and stagnant incomes. Public transport users now face yet another financial burden as diesel prices continue to climb to record levels ahead of Eid ul Azha. Transporters said they tried to avoid increasing fares during the previous diesel price hike, but the latest jump in fuel costs left operators with no other option. “We are forced to increase fares due to the continuous rise in diesel prices,” one mazda owner said. The recent development comes as government jacked up petrol prices by Rs14.92 per litre, taking new rate to Rs414.78, while high-speed diesel prices were raised by Rs15 per litre to Rs414.58 per litre. Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance also announced 4 per cent increase in freight charges. Alliance President Malik Shahzad Awan warned that transporters were rapidly moving towards a nationwide strike due to unbearable operating costs. They said expense of operating a single trailer round trip has surged by nearly Rs200,000, while monthly operational costs have increased by around Rs800,000. He claimed transporters are now “running vehicles at a loss” as fuel prices continue to rise without relief. The timing has raised even greater concern as Eidul Azha approaches later this month in May, and demand of transportation typically surge nationwide. Experts fear the combination of festival demand and skyrocketing transport costs could unleash another major inflation wave, putting additional pressure on already exhausted households. Transport associations openly criticized the government’s fuel pricing and taxation policies, accusing authorities of ignoring the transport se