RAWALPINDI: After two weeks the Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMTA) will resume the metro bus service between Rawalpindi and Islamabad today (Thursday).

JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s announcement to end the sit-in brought a sigh of relief for the local administrations of the twin cities after which a clean chit was given to the PMTA to start the bus service.

After the Azadi March entered Islamabad, the administration of Rawalpindi and Islamabad recommended closure of the bus service to avoid any untoward situation. The bus depot adjacent to the H-9 ground was sealed for security purposes and buses parked on the elevated road of Saddar in Rawalpindi.

“We will start the bus service on the advise of the local administration as the bus depot had been under the control of the Islamabad administration for the last 14 days and was sealed. The fuel station and workshop for buses are located in the depot,” PMTA Rawalpindi-Islamabad Manager Operation Shamila Mohsin told Dawn.

She said the buses could not be operated in Rawalpindi alone as the district administration had also not given clearance.

“Daily Rs3.5 million had been lost due to the service’s closure,” Ms Mohsin said.

She said 100,000 passengers travelled daily between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, adding that the bus service also had to bear the electricity and other expense.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019