RAWALPINDI: The inauguration of 80 electric buses running on 10 routes in Rawalpindi, originally scheduled for October 15, has been postponed to next week due to ongoing protests by a religious group in Punjab.
The provincial government is introducing the new bus service, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The district administration had prepared arrangements for the ceremony at Liaquat Bagh.
A district official told a private newspaper that the new date for the launch would be announced within a week after confirmation from the Chief Minister’s Office. The event was initially planned for October 15, but it was delayed due to the Chief Minister’s other commitments.
Ahead of the visit, civic authorities worked to improve roads, footpaths, and greenbelts along Murree Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Rawal Road, and Old Airport Road over the past week.
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Officials admitted that the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) had failed to repair roads and green areas damaged during the monsoon rains. A senior RMC official said patchwork was ongoing in several areas, but work could not restart due to road closures over the last three days.
PHA Director General Ahmed Hassan Ranjha said the authority launched a beautification drive in June, funded by Rs150 million from the Punjab government, focusing on metro pillars, greenbelts, and public areas along major roads. He added that staff had been working day and night to maintain parks, highways, squares, and intersections.
“Flowers and plants in parks and greenbelts have become a popular attraction for residents,” he said, adding that PHA nurseries continue regular maintenance to keep the city lush and green.
