The Punjab government has prepared an initial plan to introduce a free urban bus service across the province, under which buses will be operated through private operators on a rental basis.
The plan follows a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, where it was decided to launch free transport in 17 districts lacking public transport facilities. A pilot phase has also been approved for Gujranwala, Multan and Sialkot.
Under the proposed model, operators will be paid on a per-kilometer basis under a performance-linked system. Each bus will be required to operate a minimum of 100 kilometers and up to 200 kilometers daily, while no payment will be made for travel beyond the set limit.
Routes will be finalized based on passenger demand and transport needs in each area. Officials said private operators will bear all operational costs, including drivers, fuel, maintenance and other expenses, while the government will make full weekly payments to operators.
The plan includes running around 1,000 buses under the rental model. Authorities said no fares will be charged from passengers, and the service will be completely free for citizens.
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