Ride hailing routes to hills stations are the busiest: inDrive

ISLAMABAD: Routes connecting Islamabad to the northern hill stations were among the busiest on ride hailing services network in the first half of 2026, according to a report of inDrive Pakistan issued on Sunday.

The report said that the period includes the start of the summer travel season when many families head north to escape the heat. The platform recorded a 54 percent increase in intercity rides and a 54 percent increase in distance travelled over the same period last year.

The rise lines up with the school summer break, as families use the time off through June and July to travel north. Average estimated one-way fares to popular hill destinations from Islamabad range from roughly Rs 4,000 to Murree up to Rs 11,500 to Naran, giving travellers price clarity before they set off.

More families and groups appear to be turning to shared and pre-agreed fare options for these trips, letting them plan costs upfront without the burden of driving themselves.

Murree, Nathia Gali, Abbottabad, Naran, Muzaffarabad and Swat all feature among the busiest routes out of the capital, according to the platform’s 2026 data. The Islamabad to Murree route shows a distinct weekend pattern, with orders peaking on Saturday around 11 am as travellers set off for a day or weekend in the hills, a rush-hour moment repeated across the capital every week of the season.

Shared Rides’ share of completed trips rose from 14.9 percent to 18 percent year-on-year — a modest but steady shift toward shared travel.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026