KARACHI, Aug 10: A new air-conditioned bus service for female commuters is being launched in the city from Aug 14.

The details regarding the bus service were finalized at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Dr Ishratul Ibad at the Sindh Governor's House on Tuesday.

The governor said the basic objective of this service was to facilitate the school and college students and working women in reaching their respective destinations. He said that generally the women faced great inconvenience in public transport due to seating constraints.

Dr Ibad said that initially the service was being launched with only two buses, and added that if it proved successful, then more buses would be inducted for different routes. He appreciated the efforts of DIG, Traffic, Mohammed Yamin Khan, in implementing the bus service project in a short time.

He suggested that the buses should be routed through the educational institutions, hospitals and markets, so that women could take maximum advantage of it. The governor also proposed the initiation of a "family bus service," so that the people could travel with their families in a conducive environment.

Mr Yamin Khan said on the occasion that the women bus service would be launched by the Sindh governor. The service was being initiated with the coordination of the Green Bus Service and the company would also launch the 'family bus service' soon.

He informed the meeting that the bus service for women would start from Surjani Town and end at Mereweather Tower after passing through Nagan Chowrangi, Sohrab Goth, Abul Ispahani Road, Gulshan Chowrangi, NIPA, Civic Centre, National Stadium, PTV, Sharafabad, Buhadarabad, Tariq Road, Alklahwali Chowrangi, Nursery, Regent Plaza, Jinnah Hospital, Hotel Mehran, Reo Centre, Zaibunnisa Street, Abdullah Haroon Road, Regal, Burns Road, Jamia Cloth and M.A. Jinnah Road and vice-versa.

Starting from Surjani at 7am and reaching MW Tower at 9.30am, the buses will continue to operate till 10.45pm. The last trip will start at 8.15pm and end at 10.45pm. It will be an air-donditioned service with normal fare, however, handicapped women will be charged only Rs5 for the entire route. The governor stressed on issuance of monthly and forthrightly tickets for the service as well as on other routes of the Green Bus Service. -APP