Egypt to Increase Metro Fares?

After months of speculation and denial, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has acknowledged that metro fares will be increasing, although he did not say when or by how much. “We have yet to decide on the rate of the increase, but services will not be sustainable if the ticket price does not change,” Ismail said in a press statement Wednesday, reported by AlMasry AlYoum.

The Egyptian cabinet is studying ways to implement a price hike without affecting the lowest-income citizens, cabinet spokesman Hossam Qawish told Al Hayat Al Youm. He added that prices will not rise above 3 or 5 LE.

WE SAID THIS: Currently, a metro ticket costs only 1LE.