KARACHI, Feb 1: Ten more private green buses formally started plying the city roads on Saturday, raising the number of jumbo-sized buses introduced, so far, by the city government’s mass transit department to 14 — four CNG and 10 diesel.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad inaugurated the 35-seater bus service by driving the 12-meter long bus on the premises of Quaid’s mausoleum.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Sindh minister for transport Adil Siddiqui, chief secretary K. B. Rind, city government’s DCO Shafiq-ur-Rehman Paracha, officials of Swede-Bus Pakistan, the operators of Green Bus Service and newsmen were aboard the bus.

The new diesel buses have been allotted route No 2B — from Mereweather Tower to North Karachi via I. I. Chundrigar Road, Shaheen Complex, Musical Fountain, Abdullah Haroon Road, Regal Cinema, M. A. Jinnah Road, Gurumandir, Lasbella and Nazimabad.

The buses, while proceeding towards Mereweather Tower, will take the route of Zaibunnisa Street and towards North Karachi, it will pass through Abdullah Haroon Road.

The stage-wise fare of the green buses is Rs 10, 15 and 20. Its maximum fare, however, is Rs 5 more as compared to the four CNG buses introduced about a month back on Mereweather Tower-Gulistan-i-Jauhar route.

It is for the first time in the history of the city that buses will pass through Zaibunnisa Street or Sir Abdullah Haroon Road.

According to the DG of Karachi Mass Transit Department, Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, the permission for plying buses on Zaibunnisa Street and Abdullah Haroon Road has been granted to encourage motorists to visit the busy Bohri Bazaar, Cooperative Market, Zainab Market and Electronics Market and their adjoining commercial centres by travelling in comfortable buses and thus the move would help reduce the number of cars and cabs on these roads.

Earlier, briefing the governor at a ceremony held at Quaid’s mausoleum, an official of the Swede-Bus Pakistan said 10 # European-design Scania Urban buses have already been introduced from Thursday while the remaining 28 buses would start plying in a week or so.

He said 10 green buses have already started plying route 2B from Thursday .