The Sindh government has decided to start exclusive bus routes under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and also launch a new route of the People’s Bus Service from Larkana to Qambar.
These decisions were made during an important meeting of the Department of Transport and Mass Transit on Wednesday, chaired by Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. The meeting was attended by Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, CEO of Trans Karachi Zubair Channa, and other relevant officials.
The meeting discussed in detail the ongoing and proposed public transport projects in the province, their operational matters, progress and future strategies, while the operations of double-decker buses, EV taxis, EV buses, People’s Bus Service, Green Line and Orange Line were also reviewed.
Addressing the meeting, Senior Minister Memon stated that the Sindh government intends to introduce exclusive public bus routes under the PPP model, whereby various routes will be handed over to private investor companies and individuals for operation.
He said modern, air-conditioned electric (EV) buses will be operated on these exclusive routes, and these routes will be allocated to private investors through auctions or other competitive mechanisms. He emphasised that the primary objective of this initiative is to provide the public with quality, safe, and modern travel facilities while simultaneously promoting private investment.
Memon directed the relevant authorities to launch the new Larkana to Qambar Peoples Bus Service route at the earliest, stating that this route will provide thousands of citizens with improved travel facilities and will also boost commercial activities along with transportation between the two districts. He instructed the officials to complete all administrative and operational measures for the launch of the new route as soon as possible.
Briefing the meeting, officials informed that consultations and negotiations with various stakeholders on the EV taxi project are underway, and the project is progressing rapidly. On this occasion, the senior minister stated that an eco-friendly EV taxi service will soon be launched in Karachi, from which citizens will benefit through modern, comfortable, and quality travel facilities, while environmental pollution will also be significantly reduced.
He further directed that more double-decker buses are set to arrive in Karachi soon, and therefore the planning of their new routes and all administrative matters should be completed promptly so that citizens can be provided with these bus facilities at the earliest.
He said that the increase in daily ridership of the Green Line BRT from 50,000 to 81,000, and of the Orange Line from 1,800 to 9,800, is a welcoming development and a reflection of the growing public confidence. He stated that the dedicated Pink Bus Service for women on the Green Line BRT has provided excellent travel facilities to women, and the initiative has received a tremendous response from the public, particularly from women.
Memon also took notice of the misuse of pink electric scooters in the meeting and directed that men should immediately refrain from riding Pink scooters; otherwise legal action will be taken against them. He instructed the relevant departments that wherever men are found using Pink Scooters, those electric two-wheelers should immediately be confiscated. He further directed that those found changing the colour of Pink scooters or wrapping them to disguise their identity should also be dealt with without discrimination.
The senior minister reaffirmed his commitment that the Sindh government will continue to take all possible measures to complete all ongoing and proposed transport projects on time in order to provide the public with modern, safe, eco-friendly, and quality travel facilities.
