PESHAWAR, Dec 16: Peshawar has become the first city in the country to have an exclusive CNG bus service for women commuters.

“It is not segregation but a progressive step taken by the provincial government,” said provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who was the chief guest at the launching ceremony of the bus service here on Tuesday.

The bus service is a joint venture of the provincial social welfare and women development, transport department and the city district government.

Mr Hussain said that in the current security scenario Peshawar was surrounded by fear but the people here should fight back all fears and make the city lively.

He said militants and terrorists should not discourage us from living a normal life and advised people to show unity in the face of threats.

Sitara Imran, social welfare and women development minister, said the district and provincial governments should try to make this initiative a success.

Initially two CNG buses would run from the Haji Camp bus stop to Hayatabad Township. The fare is the same as fixed by the government for other public transport vehicles, which is Rs6 per stop, said Mohammad Naeem, owner of the City Transport Service which has provided the busses.

The number of buses would be increased to eight in six months after success of the service. “We have hired educated women conductors who will be serving the women commuters,” he said.

A young woman bus conductor, present at the ceremony, said she was educated up to intermediate level and would try to do her duty in a better way.

District Nazim Ghulam Ali said the district government was trying to provide all facilities to its citizens and the CNG bus service would be a good facility for women commuters.

The participants were taken on a bus ride after the inauguration. One of the women participants said it was a comfortable ride.