When the price of petrol goes beyond the reach of ordinary people, they find older, simpler ways to survive, and that is exactly what is happening in Karachi right now. Horse-drawn carts, a sight that once belonged to old photographs and childhood memories, are making a quiet but powerful comeback on the streets of Pakistan’s largest city.
Pakistan is currently experiencing the largest fuel price increase in its history, triggered by the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran and disruptions to oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes.
The government announced the new rates on March 7, 2026, pushing petrol above Rs. 321 per litre, marking one of the largest single increases in Pakistan’s fuel pricing history.
In Karachi, the fuel price surge has pushed up transport fares across all modes of travel. Bus fares jumped sharply, with the minimum fare rising from Rs 30 to Rs 50 and the maximum reaching Rs 100, hitting students and daily workers the hardest.
With rickshaws, taxis, and buses becoming too expensive for many families, horse carts have become a practical and affordable alternative for short distances. The sight of decorated horse carts moving through Karachi’s busy streets with smiling children watching from the side is both charming and heartbreaking, a reminder that behind every viral moment is a family doing its best to survive.
