As many as 45 Chinese electric buses have arrived in the garrison city of Rawalpindi to operate on 10 routes starting this week. These buses are part of a larger fleet of 1,100 electric buses being introduced across Punjab. Each bus is equipped with air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi, along with an automated ticketing system and a flexible design to meet the needs of passengers with disabilities, reports Gwadar Pro. Safety and comfort measures have also been prioritized. Similar projects are being implemented in other parts of Pakistan.

The new electric buses will be linked with the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Service, offering a comfortable and affordable commuting option for citizens. Punjab Transport Department PRO Mr. Sheraz told Gwadar Pro that around 200 Chinese electric buses are already operating in nine districts of Punjab. These districts include Mianwali (15 buses), Wazirabad (15), Sargodha (33), Sahiwal (16), Dera Ghazi Khan (24), Faisalabad (30), Pakpattan (15), Lahore (40), and Muzaffarabad (17).

The remaining buses will soon begin service in other districts of the province, he added. The fare for this service is proposed to be just 20 rupees, as the provincial government aims to keep it affordable for low-income groups. A total of 80 electric buses will operate in Rawalpindi. In the initial phase, 45 have arrived for the city, while 15 have been dispatched to Gujar Khan. The Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA) will supervise the buses in Rawalpindi, whereas the Punjab Transport Company will manage those in Gujar Khan. Uzair Shah, General Manager (Operations) at the PMA, said that the authority has completed arrangements for charging stations and the bus depot.

“The buses will start operating next month,” he said. He added that, under the law, the PMA has the mandate to operate feeder buses for the Metro Bus Service. “All Chinese electric buses in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Multan will be managed by the PMA, while the Punjab Transport Company will oversee operations in other parts of the province,” he noted. Regarding bus stops, he said shelters to protect passengers from rain and sun would be built by the Regional Transport Authority. “Construction will begin as soon as the buses hit the roads,” he added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China