Launch of 80 Electric Buses in Rawalpindi Postponed

The inauguration ceremony for 80 electric buses on 10 routes in the garrison city, originally scheduled for October 15, has been postponed due to the ongoing law and order situation.

The provincial government’s new transport initiative, which was to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has been delayed, and a new date will be announced after confirmation from the Chief Minister’s Office, a district administration official told Dawn.

The official said the event was postponed due to the chief minister’s other engagements, adding that all preparations had been made for the ceremony at Liaquat Bagh.

In anticipation of the launch, civic agencies had been working for days to repair and beautify key roads, including Murree Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Rawal Road, and Old Airport Road. However, the recent unrest has slowed down the pace of this work.

An official from the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) said road patchwork had been halted for the past few days due to security-related closures.

Meanwhile, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General Ahmed Hassan Ranjha said a Rs150 million beautification drive, launched earlier in June, had been largely completed.

He added that PHA teams continue to maintain greenbelts, intersections, and parks across the city, with newly planted flowers drawing attention from residents.