KARACHI: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Green and Orange lines launched a ‘smart ticketing facility’ on Tuesday, allowing passengers to buy bus tickets using their debit and credit cards.

Dr Sarsh Hashmat Lodhi, Vice Chancellor of NED University and a member of the board of the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (SIDCL), inaugurated the system at a simple ceremony held at the Numaish bus station of the BRT.

SIDCL officials claimed that this initiative marks the first instance of implementing smart ticketing in any mass transit system across the country.

“This value addition to the service will definitely simplify the travel process for Green Line passengers. At all stations, passengers will be able to load funds onto their passenger cards using their debit or credit cards, making the ticketing process more efficient and user-friendly,” said Dr Lodhi.

Abdul Aziz, Operations Manager of Green Line Bus Service, stated that this is the first instance for metro services in Pakistan where passengers can easily purchase bus tickets using any bank’s debit or credit card, significantly improving passenger convenience. He added that the smart ticketing system would also streamline the ticketing process, reduce waiting times, and enhance the overall efficiency of the city’s mass transit operations.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2024