LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that 100 more modern electric buses have been dispatched from Shanghai, China, and will reach Punjab in the coming weeks.
In a message on social media platform X, the chief minister said the new buses will start service in every district of Punjab by December. She added that the fare will be only Rs20 per ride.
Maryam Nawaz said the buses will be equipped with CCTV cameras to ensure women’s safety and prevent harassment. She said the buses will also have air-conditioning and climate control systems to provide passengers with a comfortable travel experience.
She expressed hope that by December, modern electric buses will be available across Punjab, making public transport more affordable and safe.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has also decided to launch Pakistan’s first Urban Super Autonomous Rapid Transport (SART) system on Lahore’s Canal Road.
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The electric tram system will have the capacity to carry 320 passengers at a time. For the past seven years, no public transport has been available on the busy Canal Road, forcing commuters to rely on motorcycle rickshaws, which were adding to pollution.
To tackle both transport and environmental issues, the Punjab Transport Department has approved the Urban Electric Tram project. A successful test run of the Yellow Line SART has already been conducted, which generated excitement among citizens.
The trackless electric tram will run on a 31-kilometre route from Thokar Niaz Baig to Jallo Park, operating on the side lanes of the main road. The tram has three interconnected segments and can travel up to 40 kilometres on a single charge.
