Free rides for a month: Govt rolls out Rs 350m relief boost in Islamabad
- By Web Desk -
- Apr 04, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday announced free rides that all public transport in Islamabad would be free of cost for the next 30 days, following directives from Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
The minister shared the development on the social media platform X, stating that the initiative would come into effect from tomorrow and would apply to the general public across Islamabad.
The move is aimed at providing immediate and broad-based relief amid rising transport expenses for daily commuters.
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
According to the Interior Ministry, the government will bear Rs 350 million in expenses to implement the month-long free-transport scheme. Officials said the measure reflects the administration’s commitment to easing the financial burden on citizens while improving accessibility to public mobility services.
The government expects the initiative to benefit thousands of commuters each day, particularly students, workers, and low-income households who rely heavily on public transport.
Further details on operational adjustments and routes covered under the scheme are expected to be shared in the coming days.
Earlier, the Punjab government on Friday announced free public transport for all passengers following a massive increase in petrol prices.
The federal government has raised the price of petrol by Rs138 per litre, bringing the new rate to Rs458.40 per litre. Meanwhile, the diesel price has been increased by Rs184 per litre, reaching Rs520.35 per litre.
Public transport has been made free for passengers across all cities of Punjab. This includes services such as the Orange Line, Metro Bus, Speedo buses, and Green Electric Buses.
The government has also decided to provide financial relief to farmers, including a subsidy of Rs100 per litre on diesel.
Additionally, registered motorcycle owners will receive a subsidy of Rs100 per litre on up to 20 litres of petrol.
The chief minister said that the relief package is part of efforts to implement Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s national savings and austerity program in Punjab.
She added that despite the challenging economic situation, providing relief to the public remains the government’s top priority. “We will not leave the people alone in difficult times,” she said, expressing hope that economic conditions will improve soon.
Maryam Nawaz also urged citizens to use public transport due to the extraordinary circumstances. She noted that the global economic crisis, worsened by war, has affected many countries, and Pakistan has been particularly impacted due to its reliance on imported oil.
Meanwhile, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, on Friday strongly condemned the massive increase in petroleum prices, terming it a “petrol bomb” dropped on the public by the government.
He also announced the launch of a nationwide protest movement against the hike, urging citizens—especially the youth—to come out and raise their voices for change.