The Punjab government has announced plans to launch 102 electric buses in Rawalpindi. The project, which will cost Rs. 7 billion, aims to reduce pollution and provide cleaner public transportation to the city.
The electric buses will operate on an 84-kilometer route, covering 10 key public transport routes. So far, the provincial government has allocated Rs. 4.7 billion for the initiative. The project is expected to significantly improve air quality by curbing environmental pollution in the region.
Punjab’s Transport Minister, Bilal Akbar Khan, confirmed in June that the e-bus service will begin next year. The buses will cover several important routes, including one connecting Taxila, Wah Cantt, and IJP Road to Octori 26, and another linking Daultala to Rawalpindi.
In August, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved an expansion of the project, bringing the total number of electric buses to 200. This decision follows an agreement made during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, which focused on tackling environmental issues and promoting eco-friendly transportation across Pakistan, including Islamabad and other provinces.
The new electric buses will offer international-standard services, improving public transport in Rawalpindi and the Rawalpindi Cantonment. The project also includes the construction of modern bus terminals with a 100-bus capacity at the old GTS bus depot in Chohard Choke, as well as a new terminal at Adamjee Road in Rawalpindi Cantonment. Additionally, 40 electric chargers will be installed at these terminals to support the electric fleet.
