Punjab approves electric buses for 10 more districts

LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved the provision of electric buses in 10 more districts as part of efforts to modernise public transport and reduce emissions.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where authorities also reviewed progress on mass transit projects in Gujranwala and Faisalabad.

Under the plan, electric buses will be introduced in Attock, Bhakkar, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Layyah, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin and Okara, officials told the meeting.

The provincial government has also sought a plan to roll out 1,500 electric buses at the tehsil level.

Deliveries are expected in phases, with 100 buses arriving this month, 350 by mid-May and a further 264 by the end of June, according to the briefing.

Dedicated depots for electric buses will be set up in each division, the meeting was told.

Officials said that a free transport programme has already benefited about 125,000 passengers across 21 routes, with more than 3,500 bus trips completed.

Separately, a report on the province’s first e-taxi scheme was presented at the meeting, with 194 electric taxis expected to arrive in May and 208 in June.

The chief minister also approved a new design for metro bus stations and directed that construction and renovation work be completed swiftly.

An e-bike project for government employees was also approved.