Getting around Pakistan was 7.9pc cheaper in September than in May, according to a new index.

The Mobility Index, launched by Pakistan & Counting, in partnership with ride-sharing operator BusCaro, measures per-kilometre travel costs across eight modes of transport: own bike (petrol), private rickshaw, own car (petrol), public transport (per seat), ride-share (perseat), and ride-hailing bike, rickshaw and car.

The index fell from 100 in May to 92.1 in September. For the average vehicle on the road, a kilometre cost was Rs9.65 in September, compared with Rs10.48 in May. The lower reading was due to cheaper petrol, which averaged Rs374.61 per litre in September, 7.5pc below May`s Rs405.19. This was due to the energy price spike amid the conflict in the Middle East and the resulting sup-ply chain bottlenecks.

For a Honda CD70 rider, the fuel cost of a kilometre fell from Rs7.37 in May to Rs6.81 in September. Running a car cost Rs24.78 per km, down from Rs26.80, and a private rickshaw cost Rs11.71 per km, down from Rs12.66.

Public transport went the other way, though fares did not rise. All four of Punjab`s BRT services were free from early April until June 12. Therefore, May records no fare on them. -Dawn Report