Travel from Karachi to Lahore has become increasingly expensive and challenging as citizens rush to celebrate the Basant festival in Lahore. With the arrival of Basant, airfares on the Karachi–Lahore route have surged sharply, causing serious difficulties for passengers.
According to sources, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and several private airlines have significantly increased ticket prices for flights to Lahore. One-way airfares from Karachi to Lahore have reportedly crossed Rs 68,000, making air travel unaffordable for many. Due to high passenger demand ahead of the festival, ticket prices continue to rise with each passing hour.
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The situation has worsened further because of the public holiday on February 5, prompting many travelers to plan early trips to Lahore. Passengers say airlines are taking advantage of limited seat availability and charging excessively high fares. Many citizens have expressed frustration, stating that the sudden price hike has disrupted their travel plans.
Railway travel has also become problematic. Trains traveling from Karachi to Lahore are overcrowded, and tickets have become extremely hard to find. Due to the heavy rush, many passengers are unable to secure train tickets, forcing them to consider costly air travel as the only option.
Several travelers complained that despite preferring rail travel due to lower costs, the lack of available seats has left them with no alternative. This has added to public dissatisfaction, especially among families and middle-income travelers planning to attend Basant celebrations.
Citizens have urged the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and other relevant institutions to take immediate notice of the situation. They have demanded strict action against airlines charging excessive fares and called for measures to control ticket prices to provide relief to the public.
The travel crisis highlights the growing challenges faced by passengers during major festivals and raises concerns about price regulation and passenger rights during peak travel seasons.
