GUJRAT: The Punjab government will launch 206 electric buses in seven districts of the Gujranwala region to improve public transport and reduce pollution. These buses will run on different routes as feeder service to the Gujranwala Metro Bus.
Gujranwala Commissioner Naveed Haider Sheerazi said that the project is being carried out on the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He said the new transport system will meet the travel needs of the public and also help protect the environment.
The government has allocated Rs16 billion for the project. Out of this amount, Rs7.5 billion will be used to set up electric charging stations, and Rs8.5 billion will be spent on buying the electric buses. Commissioner Sheerazi said the buses are expected to arrive by September this year.
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According to another senior official, Gujranwala district will receive 88 buses, Sialkot will get 45, Gujrat 28, Hafizabad 16, Mandi Bahauddin 12, and Narowal and Wazirabad will get 7 buses each.
Earlier Launch in Lahore
Earlier, in February, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the first batch of electric buses in Lahore, marking the launch of Pakistan’s first fully electric public transport service.
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Route & Frequency: Twenty‑seven buses now run on a 21‑km line from the Railway Station to Green Town via Queens Road, Mozang, Ferozepur Road, Campus Bridge and Ichhra Canal. Buses arrive every nine minutes, stopping at 42 new shelters.
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Capacity & Comfort: Each bus holds up to 80 passengers (30 seats). Features include GPS tracking, Wi‑Fi, USB ports and ramps with special seats for differently‑abled riders. A section is reserved for women, and cameras deter harassment.
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Charging & Range: Nine chargers at the Green Town depot give each bus a 250‑km range—enough for four round trips before recharging.
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Tech & Tickets: A mobile app lets passengers track buses in real time and pay fares through digital wallets or new universal transport cards.
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Training & Safety: Seventy drivers are being trained. Safe City cameras are being installed at every stop.
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Next Steps: The official public launch is set for mid‑February. The chief minister has also ordered studies on an e‑taxi project, solar fans and water coolers at bus stands, and more private‑sector charging stations.
With the Gujranwala rollout following the Lahore pilot, Punjab is moving quickly toward cleaner, high‑tech public transport across the province.
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