Earlier this week, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar chaired a meeting which considered recommendations to launch a new transport system. As per media reports, the government is mulling to launch this system in different cities. Furthermore, the authorities also discussed to fix Orange Line Train fare according to the distance.
During the meeting, it was decided that environment friendly electric buses would be launched in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur along with the start of a technology-based latest bus system. The government also discussed about extending Punjab Transport Company to remote areas of the province.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Transport Minister Jahanzeb Khan Khichi, Secretary Transport, Secretary Finance and other concerned officers.
Punjab Govt’s Action Plan
Earlier in June, The Punjab government had decided it’s time to replace Metro buses in Lahore with a fleet of new buses. As per media report, 64 new Metro buses were coming to Lahore, and 19 had already arrived at the Karachi Port. These 19 buses reached Lahore after getting custom clearance.
Last year, The Punjab government signed an agreement with VEDA Transit Solutions and a group of local banks to replace the existing fleet of 64 buses operating at the 27 kilometers long track of the Lahore Metro Bus System. As per the report, the Bank of Punjab was the key adviser and arranger of this agreement.
The signing took place between the Director VEDA, Muhammad Ammar Khan, and the Head of Investment Bank of Punjab, Rizwan Hameed. The Minister for Transport, Jehanzeb Khan Khichi, also attended the agreement-signing ceremony. As per the signed agreement, the first batch of 19 new buses has made it to the Karachi Port.
Since the launch of the Metro buses in Lahore in 2013, the public has grown fond of the service. Why wouldn’t they? It’s convenient, comfortable, and cheap. You can go from one end to the other end of Lahore in just 30 rupees. The Metro bus service is a lifesaver for everyone, students, workers, and even families.
LTS came and went, the local wagons of the 90s are now running on 1~2 routes. Newkhan came and ran for like 5~7 years, now bust. What we need is a consistent and sustainable transport plan which can run for ages and the city becomes known for that plan. At the moment the chingchi is the only reliable mode of public transport for the last 20 years.