Eco-Friendly Electric Buses to Transform Public Transport in Punjab

Punjab Transport Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javid Qazi recently announced a revolutionary step towards sustainable public transport in Punjab with the launch of 86 eco-friendly electric buses. These electric buses, aimed at reducing pollution and modernizing urban mobility, will begin operations on six major routes during the first phase of the project.

The initiative includes:

• 50 nine-metre buses
• 36 eleven-metre buses

The funding for this ambitious project has already been approved by the Punjab Cabinet.

Major Developments During the Visit

Dr. Ahmad Javid Qazi made these announcements while visiting Faisalabad to assess the city’s urban transport requirements. He also reviewed plans for a metro bus service and closely monitored the upcoming intra-city electric bus project.

The visit included a high-level meeting at the FDA Complex Committee Room, where key officials and stakeholders were in attendance. Among the notable attendees were:

• Muhammad Mobasher, Consultant, Asian Development Bank (ADB), who presented detailed plans for the metro bus project.
• Hassan Faiq Manhas, CTO, Punjab Transport Company, who provided updates on the intra-city electric bus operations.

Infrastructure to Support Electric Buses

To ensure smooth and efficient operations, three sites have been identified for the construction of electric bus depots:

1. Ghulam Muhammadabad
2. Sargodha Road
3. Gatwala

Dr. Qazi highlighted the importance of integrated planning and urged collaboration between district administration, FDA, traffic police, and municipal corporations. He emphasized the need to develop well-planned routes and improve road infrastructure to facilitate these electric buses effectively.

This milestone reflects Punjab’s commitment to eco-friendly transportation, aiming to improve urban mobility while reducing environmental pollution.