Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister, Justice (R) Maqbool Baqar, added another 80 buses to the People’s Bus Service fleet in a simple ceremony on Wednesday. The new buses include 30 hybrid and 50 electric vehicles.

With the addition of 80 new buses, the city’s fleet now comprises 300 buses, including 18 Pink Buses for women only.

The inauguration ceremony of adding a fleet of 80 buses in the Intra-city People’s Bus Service was held at the Mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

According to the Chief Minister, as of mid-2015, there were 3.6 million registered vehicles in Karachi, which is over 30 per cent of the national total. Private vehicles, mainly motorcycles and cars, make up about 84 per cent of the total number of registered vehicles.

He said that the growth rate for private vehicles is over four per cent, which means that there are now over 1000 new vehicles being added to the streets of Karachi each day.

Baqar pointed out that there were more than 12000 public vehicles, including buses, minibuses, and coaches, operating on 267 routes in the city. However, the number of buses has been declining steadily, and as of 2017, less than 5000 buses were serving fewer than 100 routes. He emphasized that a city as big as Karachi should have at least 15000 modern buses.

Also read: Sindh govt. to introduce Eco-Friendly Electric Taxis in Karachi

Owing to the lack of intra-city public transport, the Sindh government and NRTC signed an agreement in October 2021 for the supply, operation, and construction of the Sindh Intra-District People’s Bus Service Project, said the CM.

The Sindh Peoples Intra-District Project is a government-to-government (G2G) initiative between the Sindh government and NRTC. It was launched in June 2022 and is the first-ever Intra-City Public Transport Project operating in mixed traffic, especially in Karachi and other cities of Sindh, such as Larkana, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.

The Project is basically for the Public and is to be operated through the Public Private Partnership. The Project is designed to integrate state of the art bus operations model consisting of high-quality diesel hybrid bus service to meet the increasing urban transport demand in Metro Cities and contribute to the development of a sustainable transport system.

Secretary Transport Asad Zamin briefing the CM about the project said that currently 204 Buses are in operation on 11 routes in Karachi, while six buses are operating in Larkana, 12 in Hyderabad on two routes, and 10 in Sukkur.

Operation of the first Women-Exclusive Public Transport Service is already operating in the city with nine Pink Buses on route-01, and another nine Pink Buses on route-02.

50 electric buses: The Telephone Industry of Pakistan, a subsidiary of the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation, is already engaged in a flagship project with the Sindh government, and has submitted a proposal through its international partners to develop an eco-friendly Electric Vehicle System in the province.

Read more: Hyderabad Women Get Pink Bus Facility

The initiative is on the ‘Rent to Own’ model under which the Sindh government will pay nominal lease payments including the operational and capital costs for eight years. After completion of the lease period (8 years) the Buses will be handed over to the provincial government.

The caretaker cabinet has approved a pilot project comprising 50 environment-friendly pure electric buses to fulfil the previous commitments to formalize the contractual arrangements.

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Karachi, Sindh

Sindh government has decided to create a separate force like Motorway Police under the provincial transport department, Minister for Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon revealed on Saturday.

Chairing a meeting of Sindh Mass Transit Authority Board, Minister said that the new force, consisting of Inspectors, will be deployed across the province to carry out the inspection of vehicles besides ensure the safety of passengers.

Sharjeel Inam said that steps will be taken for capacity building of drivers and conductors of People’s Bus Service and Inspectors of Transport Department. “The decision has been taken to establish a training school to impart the training to the drivers and conductors of the People’s Bus Service like the stewards of airlines,” he said.

Saleem Rajput, Secretary, Transport Department, Kamal Dayo, Managing Director, Sindh Mass Transit Authority and others attended the meeting. (PR)

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Karachi

A delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) headed by Senior Urban Development Specialist Mr. Lloyd Wright called on Sindh Chief Secretary Dr. Sohail Rajput on Tuesday at his office and discussed the issues hindering the execution of BRT Redline project in Karachi, especially the issues related to proposed Biogas plant in Malir and Bus Depot at Alladin Park.

The delegation informed the Chief Secretary that the project is facing the issue of land transfer in Malir for establishing the Biogas Plant. “There are a number of installations of Karachi Electric, Karachi Water & Sewerage Board and many other organizations at the project land,” ADB delegation said.

Chief Secretary assured the ADB delegation that shifting of all the installations of utility organizations will be ensured for smooth execution of project. It was agreed that all the issues would be resolved so that the project could be completed within specified time.

Chief Secretary informed the delegation that People’s Bus Service launched in the province had been a great success and the Pink Bus Service for womenfolk has been hailed internationally.

He further informed that 15 to 20 more Electric Buses are being purchased for operating in Karachi.

Chief Secretary assured the ADB delegation of full support of Sindh government for execution of the Redline project.

Secretary Transport Sindh Abdul Haleem Shaikh and other officers were present in the meeting. (PR)

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From Correspondent

Sukkur

The much awaited moment of formal launch of People’s Bus Service in Sukkur has come as the Transport & Mass Transit Department of Sindh government is set to start its formal operations in Sukkur on Friday (today), at 12.00 noon.

After the success of People’s Bus Service in Karachi, Larkana and Hyderabad, people of Sukkur will avail the facility of the People’s Bus Service.

The fleet of 10 buses has been allocated for the busiest 1st route of Sukkur that would cover the areas between Rohri Railway Station and Globe Chowk, Lab-e-Mehran Sukkur. The 25 kilometer long route of Sukkur will start from Rohri Railway Station and pass through Beari Stop, Atta Hussain degree college, Daewoo Terminal, SIUT Sukkur, City Point Bus Stop, NICVD, IBA University, New Bus Terminal, Beacon House School, Sabzi Mandi, Pakowla Chowk, Board Office, Commissioner Office, IBA Public School, 7/11 store bus stop and will culminate at globe Chowk Lab -e-Mehran.

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Karachi

Sindh Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sindh Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced to formally launch the People’s Bus Service for the people of Sukkur on February 17 and the People Pink bus service in Hyderabad from February 18, while new routes of people’s Pink Bus Service and increase in number of buses on route-1 of Pink Bus Service in Karachi from February 20.

The minister made these announcements in a press conference at his office on Monday after chairing a meeting related to People’s Bus Service.

He said that after Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana, the people of Sukkur will get the facility of modern and affordable bus service from February 17.  “On February 18, the People’s Pink bus service for women will be started in Hyderabad. While People’s Pink Bus Service is being started on two more routes in Karachi on February 20 and more buses will be added to the fleet of Route-1 of People’s Pink Bus Service,” he said.

He said that pink bus service route- 2  starts from Power Chowrangi North Karachi via Nagan Chowrangi, Shafiq Mor, Gul shan Chowrangi, Johar Mor, COD, Drigh Road, Shaara-e-Faisal, Shah Faisal Colony, Singar Chowrangi, Korangi No. 5 and terminates at Indus Hospital Korangi. Similarly, operations of pink buses will also be launched on Route No. 10 from Numaish Chowrangi via MA Jinnah Road, Zeb-u-Nisa Street, Metropole, Teen Talwar, Do Talwar, Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Dolmen Mall, McDonald’s up to Clock Tower at Sea View.

He added that the number of buses will be increased on the existing route 1 of the pink bus service plying between Model colony and Merewether Tower.

He said that some people has criticized the Pink people bus by saying that the People’s Party could not win the hearts of people by bringing just 10 buses. He said that tremendous response has been received on Pink Bus Service and everyone appreciated the initiative of the Sindh government. He said that Pakistan is among few countries where a separate bus service for women launched.

Sharjeel said that another big fleet of EV buses has arrived at Karachi port and soon these electric buses will be brought on new routes. He added that EV buses are eco-friendly buses, in which no fuel is used and these buses will help in controlling pollution. (PR)

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Hyderabad

The Sindh Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon visited different areas of Hyderabad on Friday to inspect the sanitation situation after a Turkish company has been awarded the contract of solid waste management in the city.

After the Karachi, The Sindh Solid Management Board had awarded the Turkish company the task of garbage lifting in Hyderabad also.

The areas minister visited include Latifabad, Ghari Khata, Qasimabad, Auto Bhan Road and Tando Jam city. He inspected cleanliness in various areas of Hyderabad.

Minister said that the Sindh government was taking effective measures to resolve the problems of the citizens, and added that after Karachi, the Turkish company had started solid waste management in Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh.

He said that the work of collecting garbage from house to house was going on nicely. He said that the soon buses of People’s Bus Service would also be run on more routs of Hyderabad as the administration had completed the survey work of new routes.

The minister added that Latifabad and Qasimabad would be connected to the city center through People’s Bus Service.

During his visit to Tando Jam, Sharjeel Memon met with shopkeepers and inquired about their problems. (PR)

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Test drive of People’s Bus Service has successfully been conducted in Sukkur and soon regular service will be launched.

Sindh Courier

Karachi

Sindh Minister for Information and Transport – Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Thursday that Pakistan People’s Party is definitely a part of the federal cabinet, but they cannot tolerate injustice with Sindh in any case.

While talking to the newsmen at Sindh assembly building, he said this in response to a question about load shedding of gas and electricity in the province.

“Pakistan People’s Party has raised this issue with the federal government,” he said and demanded from the federal government to take notice of the load shedding of gas and electricity in Sindh and to ensure due share of gas of Sindh under the constitution.

He remarked that it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure the judicious distribution of resources among the federating units. He added that due to the gas crisis, our industrialists and traders are worried.

Talking about the People’s Bus Service, minister said the bus service has been launched from Karachi to provide affordable and comfortable travel facilities to the public. “After its operations in Karachi, Larkana and Hyderabad, the successful test drive was conducted in Sukkur the other day. In the current month its formal operations for the public will be started in Sukkur,” he said.

He said that Punjab and KPK are facing flour shortage and rates of the commodity skyrocketed there due to non-serious policies of provincial governments of PTI.

“Sindh government is providing flour to the public at Rs.65 per kg. The subsidized flour is being provided to the public through 1100 stalls and mobile shops in every city and area of the province,” Sharjeel said.

Information Minister said that discussion on the recent rains and floods is under way in Sindh assembly so as to highlight the disaster caused by natural calamity and make effective policies for the rehabilitation phase.

He said that the Sindh government is making every possible effort to rehabilitate the flood victims, and all the resources of the provincial government have been diverted to complete the gigantic task.

He said that the farmers who are cultivating the wheat are being disbursed Rs.5000 per acre. While, government is focusing on the reconstruction of damaged houses. He said that Imran Khan had made a big blow to the cause of the flood victims. He diverted attention from the flood victims by the long march and now is talking of dissolving the assemblies.

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