Lahore: In a major step toward equitable development, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the Transport Department to prioritize the launch of electric buses in underdeveloped and remote districts of South Punjab.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on Saturday, CM Maryam reaffirmed her government’s commitment to bridging the urban-rural divide by expanding access to modern, eco-friendly transport services across all regions.
As part of the first phase, 240 electric buses will be distributed among 24 underdeveloped districts. This move marks a shift from the traditional focus on major urban centres and aims to uplift areas that have long been overlooked in public infrastructure planning.
Between August and October, an additional 500 e-buses will be deployed to key cities including Lahore, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Rawalpindi. A further 600 electric buses are expected to arrive in Punjab by December, underlining the scale of the government’s clean transport initiative.
The CM also reviewed progress on the Punjab Clean Air Program, under which 400 e-buses will be introduced in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Kasur, to help reduce vehicular emissions and improve urban air quality.
The meeting included updates on several major mass transit projects:
Gujranwala Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): A 22-km corridor from Rahwali to Eminabad with 28 stations and four e-bus depots.
Feeder Bus System: 80 feeder buses to enhance city-to-suburb connectivity in Gujranwala.
Faisalabad Red & Orange Lines: The Red Line (23.4 km) will cater to 185,000 daily passengers; the Orange Line (29 km) to 111,000. A new route from FIEDMC to Salami Chowk has been added on the CM’s orders.
CM Maryam stressed that public welfare projects must begin without delay, and e-bus routes should be based on actual commuter demand. “Every district matters. Development must be inclusive and people-centric,” she said, reiterating her government’s resolve to ensure equal access to public services across Punjab.
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