KARACHI: Another route of the Peoples Bus Service from Gulshan-i-Hadeed to Malir Cantt was launched on Wednesday.

As many as 10 buses started operation on the 36km long route from Gulshan-i-Hadeed to Malir Cantt check post No 5 on the first day, while 20 buses were allocated for the route.

The provincial transport department said that safe and comfortable public transport facilities had been provided to the citizens of Gulshan-i-Hadeed, Pipri, Shah Latif Town, Quaidabad with the start of the bus service.

It said that citizens expressed happiness over the launch of Peoples Bus Service on this route, which was formally inaugurated by Transport Secretary Abdul Halim Shaikh.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s local leaders, and officers of Sindh Mass Transit Authority and National Radio Transmission Company attended the inauguration ceremony.

The transport secretary said the provincial government had planned to start Peoples Bus Service in central areas of the city first.

“Now, Peoples Bus Service is also being extended to the suburbs of Karachi,” he added.

The transport secretary said that 250 buses had already reached Karachi. “The transport department has envisaged a huge plan, in which more hybrid and electric buses will be brought soon,” he said adding that the city’s public transport scenario would positively change in two or three years.

Transport Minister Shar­jeel Inam Memon had said that out of 11 routes of the bus service, two had been operational and six more were being made operational within next few days.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2022