Fleet of 27 electric buses ready to hit Lahore’s roads 

LAHORE: Electric buses are set to begin operating on Lahore’s roads from December, as a fleet of 27 buses manufactured in China is ready to be shipped to Pakistan. 

In a social media post, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said: “A fleet of 27 electric buses for Lahore, manufactured in China, is ready to be shipped. Around 600 buses for other districts of Punjab to follow, Insha’Allah.” 

Earlier this year, the Punjab Transport Authority completed the tender process for procuring the electric buses from China. 

Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan earlier said that a Chinese and Pakistani company had been jointly awarded the contract to manufacture the buses.

He said that the fleet of 27 electric buses has been procured at a cost of Rs15.5 billion. The contract also includes the establishment of charging stations for the buses. 

The buses come with an eight-year battery warranty and a ten-year warranty for the bus body and other structural components.

Additionally, the company will offer free supervision and maintenance services during the first year of operation, according to the minister. 

Initially, the electric buses will operate on five routes, with the first route running from the Railway Station to Green Town’s Hamdard Chowk. 

In September, a delegation led by Liu Junhua, Chairman of the Chinese vehicle manufacturer Chongqing CRRC Hengtong, met with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to discuss the province’s Green Transport System Project. 

The project aims to introduce 5,000 electric buses across Punjab, starting with 1,000 buses in the first phase. Over the next five years, a comprehensive green transport system will be implemented in major cities. 

Maryam Nawaz assured full cooperation for the project, pledging to provide all necessary facilities for manufacturing electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers in Punjab. 

During the discussions, the Chinese delegation introduced a unified charging system for electric transport. The concept of integrating mini shopping malls at bus stops was also explored. 

The chief minister had emphasized the need for a comprehensive transport system plan, expressing her vision for a fully green transport network to address traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

She had highlighted the growing public interest in electric vehicles and assured that Chinese transport companies would be welcomed with full support. 

Plans for the province also include expanding green transport initiatives, such as introducing bullet trains, metro buses, and electrified buses in every district.