Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on Tuesday that the province aims to operate 5,000 electric buses over the next five years, according to Radio Pakistan. The announcement came during a meeting of the Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department in Lahore, where she outlined plans for local assembly of electric buses.
Initial Rollout and Local Assembly
The provincial government has already started assembling electric buses locally. In the first phase, 1,500 electric buses will be deployed across 91 tehsils of Punjab. The chief minister noted that 189 new buses are ready for launch, and another 488 buses are expected to arrive from China later this month. Earlier in April, the government had confirmed plans to expand public transport capacity by leasing additional buses, with an initial rollout of 1,000 non-air-conditioned buses under consideration to address demand gaps.
Punjab Mass Transit Authority Achievements
The Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) has facilitated the movement of over 1.8 billion people since its inception, according to data on its website. The authority enforces a rule requiring passengers to exit the transit system within one hour and 15 minutes, or pay an additional fare for extended travel time.
Free Travel Subsidy and Its Withdrawal
In April, the Punjab government introduced free public transport across the province to provide relief amid rising petroleum prices. According to PMA estimates, nearly 900,000 passengers benefited daily from the free travel facility, including over 300,000 Orange Line commuters, around 140,000 Metro Bus users, and hundreds of thousands relying on feeder and electric bus services. However, the subsidy sparked debate over fiscal sustainability. The estimated daily operational cost per bus exceeded Rs61,000, placing total daily expenditure at over Rs61 million, with monthly costs projected to approach Rs1.85 billion. On June 13, the PMA, on government directives, withdrew the free travel facility, stating it was temporary. Public transport resumed normal fares. The Express Tribune calculated that the 69-day subsidy cost the Punjab government Rs4.209 billion.
Future Plans and Impact
The electric bus initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize public transport and reduce pollution. With local assembly, the government aims to cut costs and create jobs. The phased rollout will begin with 1,500 buses, expanding to 5,000 within five years, covering urban and rural areas across all tehsils.
