KARACHI: Sindh government on Monday announced starting two more routes under Peoples Bus Service in Karachi after Eid while launching the same service next month in Mirpurkhas and introducing prepaid payment system from April 18 that would gradually replace payment of fare in cash.

These developments were announced by Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon while addressing a press conference at his office.

He also hinted at procurement of 500 more buses very soon which would become part of the fleet of Peoples Bus Service.

Mr Memon, who also holds the portfolio of excise and taxation, said after Eid, two more routes of electric buses would be introduced in Karachi and the service was set to be expanded to Mirpurkhas after Ramazan.

The Sindh government, he said, in first phase had planned to launch People’s Bus Service in every divisional headquarter and the target was almost achieved.

Sharjeel says electric buses will run on two more routes

“Now after the success of first phase, we would launch the service in every district headquarter,” he added.

He said from April 18, automated fare collection system would be introduced on routes of People’s Bus Service in Karachi that would offer prepaid cards to passengers which could be used on all routes of the service and also the BRTs Green Line and Orange.

“From April 18, this automated system is being introduced for Route-1 and Route-9,” said Mr Memon. “Once it starts running successfully, the system would be introduced on all routes. It would bring major relief for the passengers as the same prepaid card would be used on all public transport schemes whether it’s Green Line, Orange Line or the upcoming BRT projects.”

He blamed the “lethargic approach” of the caretaker government that failed to introduce the automated fare system despite the fact that the past government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had completed all groundwork and technical formalities before its terms came to end.

“Another major development is that we are going to start ground-breaking of BRT Yellow Line after Eid and in first phase Jam Sadiq Bridge in Korangi would be rebuilt as part of the project,” said the transport minister.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2024