RAWALPINDI: The double-decker bus service launched in 2020 to facilitate tourists has almost been abandoned and the lone bus remains parked at its bay in Allama Iqbal Park.

The Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) launched the service from the park at Shamsabad which took tourists to Constitution Avenue in Islamabad via Shakarparian. It was the brainchild of Asif Mehmood, the then adviser to the Punjab chief minister on tourism and horticulture.

But as he resigned from the office last year, the project lost attraction.

“The basic reason was change of the top brass of the TDCP after which the bus service gradually stopped operation,” said a senior official of the TDCP.

He said the new administration paid attention to the inner Punjab areas and left the northern part of the province unattended. He said the bus was now being used only by schools and colleges who arrange sightseeing trips for their students.

He, however, said there was a plan to restart the double-decker bus service after Ramazan. Murtaza Shah, a resident of Satellite Town, said he wanted to visit the capital city on the double-decker bus but it was not available now.

He said there was a dire need for running such buses between Rawalpindi and Islamabad so people would get better view of the federal capital. He said children also wanted to get a ride on the double-decker bus. Mohammad Nasir, a regular visitor to Allama Iqbal Park, said the double-decker bus was parked in its bay. It should be used for tourism purposes. He said it was the responsibility of the district administration and the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to run the bus to facilitate the visitors.

Asif Mehmood, the former adviser to the chief minister on tourism and horticulture, told Dawn that the provincial government had launched the double-decker bus service in Rawalpindi-Islamabad and Bahawalpur to promote tourism.

“Initially, two buses operated and local people got benefit from it as well. The PHA has provided space at Double Road in Shamsabad for the bus terminal,” said Mr Mehmood, who is now the PHA chairman.

He said the bus service would attract tourists to see import buildings and sites in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He said he was working on the revival of the double-decker bus service through the PHA but the authority lacked resources for such a project.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2022