Petrol pain doubles ride fares

Daily fuel costs for ride-hailing bikers and drivers have surged, increasing operational expenses.—AFP/file • Yango costs rise 64pc; Islamabad fares up 35pc• Commuters turn to carpooling groups• Whats App hubs grow as safety fears limit shared rides• Petrol prices have surged to Rs415 per litre from Rs253 in February KARACHI: “The rates seem to have doubled,” said Namrah, who used to pay Rs600-650 to commute from Nazimabad to Tipu Sultan using ride-sharing services. After the first jump in petrol prices following the US and Israel’s attack on Iran, fares surged to as high as Rs1,800 during peak hours. At the time, the easiest explanation lay in the first fuel price hike triggered by the war that amounted to a Rs55 jump in the first week of March. However, the initial increases also coincided with Ramazan and Eid, when many drivers had gone home or were not accepting rides, creating a shortage that pushed prices even higher. Combined with the psychological impact of rising fuel costs, the mobility sector saw fare surges that now appear to have settled at elevated levels. Today, Namrah pays up to Rs1,000 during peak hours, with an average commute cost of around Rs700. Namrah joined the WhatsApp group CommUnityX to explore carpooling options. Originally formed as a networking group, it also serves as a hub for ride-sharing after its administrator, Ameeque Malik, suggested that its 600-plus members look for solutions among themselves rather than limit discussions to venting frustrations over rising costs. Built on a similar concept, Carpool Pakistan aligns routes and pools commuters based on their pick-up and drop-off points, says HR executive Hamnah, who also joined CommUnityX to explore shared-ride options. While carpooling has its merits, it also raises concerns. “I joined the group to find carpool options, but I do not have regular hours, which makes carpooling tricky,” says Namrah. “Plus, there are safety concerns.” In the same WhatsApp group, several messages warn