KARACHI: Test drive of Pakistan’s first electric bus service was conducted in Karachi under phase 2 of People’s Bus Service. Test drive started from Sindh Archives Complex to Sea View. Sindh Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Memon, Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, Adviser to CM Sindh Ijaz Jakhrani, Administrator Karachi  Murtaza Wahab, Secretary Transport Abdul Halim Sheikh, and MD Mass Transit Authority Captain (retd) Altaf Hussain Sario travelled and reviewed offered facilities. Sharjeel Memon, speaking to media said that under second phase of People’s Bus Service, test drive of European standard environment friendly buses was carried out while regular bus service would start in coming 10 days.

In 1st phase 50 electric buses have reached in Karachi while routes and fares would be announced soon after ongoing survey for determining routes of electric bus service, he said. Length of electric buses is 12 meters and would run on roads with less burden of traffic. “We are trying to set up a manufacturing plant of electric buses in Karachi and negotiations were under way with companies from China and Europe as well as local companies,” Memon said. He said that import of electric buses to Pakistan cost double than hybrid diesel buses and by setting up a plant in Karachi  buses could be available in at a lower price. Responding to a question, he said that PPP  government was focusing on development of Karachi, roads of city were being improved and Administrator  Murtaza Wahab is personally monitoring all development works. To another question, he claimed that fare of People’s Bus Service and Orange Line are reasonable and lower then private transport vehicles while service is better. Fare of electric buses will be even less, he added.

Project Director NRTC Soheb Shafiq briefed electric buses has total capacity to accommodate 70 to 90 passengers with 32 seats for general citizens and 2 seats for special persons. These buses are charged in 20 minutes and are capable of covering a distance of 240 km in a single charge, he informed.­

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 08 2022

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