Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated an eco-friendly electric bus service in six additional districts on Thursday, unveiling a phased strategy to expand the state-supported transit fleet to 5,000 vehicles. This initiative aims to connect every sub-district across the province.
The newly launched green bus service now operates in Attock, Khushab, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Bhakkar, and Khanewal, providing international-standard public transportation at a heavily subsidized flat fare, the chief minister announced during a virtual event held in Lahore.
She emphasized that Punjab stands out as the only province in Pakistan offering affordable, zero-emission mass transit. Highlighting the overwhelming demand, Maryam Nawaz stated that commuters can travel for just Rs20, marking a significant milestone where residents of Punjab can access modern, comfortable, and environmentally friendly transportation for the first time.
The provincial government plans to introduce an additional 1,500 electric buses by the end of this year, increasing the operational fleet to 3,000 vehicles. The long-term vision targets a total of 5,000 buses to ensure comprehensive coverage across all 147 tehsils, linking remote northern areas such as Murree with central and southern districts.
Maryam Nawaz also pointed out that this affordable service has notably improved mobility, especially benefiting female students and working women by providing them with safer and more accessible transportation options.
In a significant development, the chief minister met with a senior delegation from Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the transit launch. Discussions focused on enhancing regional trade corridors and fostering economic cooperation in agriculture, livestock, and industrial sectors.
As part of a proposed bilateral agreement, Punjab is considering leasing up to 200 hectares of land to Karakalpakstan to facilitate advanced potato cultivation. Maryam Nawaz reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to streamlining regulatory frameworks to attract foreign direct investment along Central Asian trade routes.
