ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi inaugurated the Electric Bus Depot and Charging Centre in Islamabad, marking a major step towards promoting environmentally friendly public transport in the federal capital.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Naqvi said that over 125,000 citizens were currently benefiting from the electric bus service on a daily basis, adding that authorities have set a target to increase ridership to 250,000 passengers per day, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
During the ceremony, the minister congratulated the entire team on the successful completion of the project and directed officials to ensure that special attention is given to routes serving students, highlighting the importance of safe and reliable transport for educational institutions.
“Authorities further informed that electric buses are currently operating on 21 routes across Islamabad, significantly strengthening the city’s public transport network," according to APP.
Officials added that the project has been integrated with Google-based systems to enhance passenger convenience and route accessibility.
The depot has the capacity to accommodate 64 chargers, of which 50 have already been installed, while the remaining 14 will be added soon. Each charger is capable of charging two buses within two hours, ensuring efficient fleet management.
The interior minister announced the expansion of the electric bus service up to Rawat, stating that the initiative would further improve regional connectivity, observing that the electric bus service was playing an important role in addressing traffic challenges and facilitating commuters.
He further said efforts were underway to restore the Rawalpindi–Islamabad railway service, which would provide an additional modern transport option for residents of the twin cities.
