KARACHI:
Even though Karachi is the nation’s economic centre, its inhabitants long lacked a reliable transit infrastructure. To cater to the needs of the public, the Sindh government passed the long-awaited Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) Bill in 2016.
The much-delayed Green Line bus project was launched last year. Recently, the provincial government also launched the first route of the electric bus service under its Peoples Bus Service programme. The electric buses are environmentally friendly and offer a budget-friendly alternative to individuals commuting to the airport. The government will also launch a women-only bus service in Karachi next week “to address the commuting problems of working women”. Although this is a great initiative to address the public’s commuting woes, the buses are still not accessible to many of the citizens.
Presently, the new buses are only running on specific routes. Resultantly, residents of Baldia Town still commute through the old mini-buses. This has left a sense of deprivation and discrimination among the people. The provincial government claimed that it will launch buses along all routes to improve accessibility for everyone, which it must fulfil soon. In addition, the bus drivers and conductors of the new buses should be urged to board and alight passengers at designated stops. There should be a proper ticketing system and the bus staff must be trained to always conduct themselves professionally.
Nazish Ghulam Ali
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2023.
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