CM Maryam launches electric bus service in six more Punjab districts

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday launched an eco-friendly electric bus service in six more districts, unveiling a phased plan to expand the provincial fleet to 5,000 vehicles to provide modern public transport across all tehsils of the province.

The new electric bus service has been introduced in Attock, Khushab, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Bhakkar and Khanewal, offering international-standard public transport at a highly subsidised flat fare.

Addressing a virtual ceremony in Lahore, the chief minister said Punjab had become the only province in Pakistan to provide affordable, zero-emission mass transit services.

“The demand for these electric buses is exceptionally high, allowing citizens to travel for just Rs20,” she said. “For the first time, the people of Punjab have access to a modern, comfortable and environment-friendly transport system.”

Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government would add another 1,500 electric buses later this year, increasing the active fleet to 3,000 vehicles.

She said the long-term plan aims to deploy a total of 5,000 electric buses to ensure transport connectivity across all 147 tehsils of Punjab, linking remote northern areas, including Murree, with central and southern parts of the province.

The chief minister said the low-cost transport service had significantly improved mobility, particularly for female students and working women.

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Separately, Maryam Nawaz met a high-level delegation from Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic of Uzbekistan, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, livestock and industry.

During the meeting, both sides discussed a proposal under which Punjab would lease up to 200 hectares of land to Karakalpakstan for advanced potato cultivation.

The chief minister reiterated that the provincial government was simplifying regulatory procedures and offering incentives to attract foreign direct investment and strengthen trade links with Central Asia.