Karachi: The first electric bus service in Pakistan has been launched in Karachi as part of the government’s efforts to improve public transportation in the provincial capital.
Sindh Transport Minister Syed Awais Qadir Shah launched the air-conditioned bus service on Tuesday, as part of a public-private partnership.
Initially, a fleet of 10 electric buses will operate from the Native Jetty Bridge to Sohrab Goth area of Karachi via MA Jinnah Road. A fare of Rs4 per kilometre will be charged. Once the trial run of the buses is completed, 100 electric buses will be launched in Karachi.
Transport Minister Shah said the fleet of electric buses would be increased gradually every month. The government is also keen to complete the modern mass transit system in Karachi in the form of Bus Rapid Transit Service.
He said the Sindh government was doing its best to facilitate prospective investors to resolve the mass transportation problem of Karachi.
The minister said work had been in progress to launch a service of 250 diesel-hybrid buses in Karachi after approval from the provincial cabinet.
In his tweet, Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry congratulated Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and his Transport Department for launching the electric bus service in Karachi. He said the Ministry of Science and Technology was fully behind the Sindh government in this futuristic approach and hoped other provinces would follow suit.
