The Punjab Mass Transit Authority has announced a 33 percent increase in fares for the Metro Bus service Punjab operating in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan, raising the cost of travel for thousands of daily commuters.

According to the authority, the new fare of Rs 40 per trip will take effect from March 26 2026. Previously passengers were paying a flat fare of Rs 30 per trip on the Red Metro Bus network in the three major cities.

Officials said the decision was taken due to increasing operational and fuel costs that have significantly raised the expenses of running public transport services across the province.

To provide relief to regular passengers, commuters using the Green Transport Card will receive a discounted fare of Rs 25 per trip. This means card users will save Rs 15 compared with passengers paying the new cash fare.

Authorities added that encouraging the use of digital payment systems will also help improve efficiency, reduce operational costs and make ticketing more convenient for passengers.

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The Red Metro Bus network is one of the largest public transport systems in Punjab and serves thousands of commuters every day including students, office workers and daily wage earners.

Officials also highlighted plans to expand digital ticketing solutions in the future, which could help streamline revenue collection and strengthen the sustainability of the mass transit system.

Despite the fare increase, authorities maintain that the Metro Bus service remains a relatively affordable transport option compared with private travel in major urban corridors.