In a meeting chaired by Minister of Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, a plan was revealed to operate 200 electric taxis in Karachi, including 50 pink taxis specifically reserved for women passengers.
Addressing the meeting, he said that these initiatives aim to improve public transportation and provide dedicated services for female passengers.
The minister stated that female drivers will be recruited specifically for the pink taxis, prioritising women's safety and offering cost-effective transportation options for the community.
"These measures not only prioritise women's safety but also promote sustainable transportation and yield economic advantages for all stakeholders involved," he said.
The minister emphasised that the electric taxi service under the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) will create employment opportunities for unemployed youth, while operating environmentally friendly taxis will result in substantial savings in oil expenditures, benefiting the environment, the public, and the government. To support the electric taxi service, charging stations and parking depots will be constructed at various locations throughout the city.
Furthermore, the meeting also reached out to a decision to purchase 500 new buses valued at Rs25 billion.
The buses will be added to the People's Bus Service fleet to enhance travel facilities for the public in the upcoming financial year.
Sharjeel instructed the initiation of a new route for the People's Bus Service, connecting Hattri to Khesana Mori in Hyderabad.
He specifically emphasised that the trial of this new route should commence within three days. The provincial minister highlighted that this new route will provide affordable and comfortable travel options for residents in both urban and rural areas.
He further directed the concerned authorities to bring all buses of the People's Bus Service onto the roads of Karachi, including those currently in backup to ensure maximum convenience for public.
Additionally, he announced that an additional 20 buses will be provided to the Sindh government by June 15 and will be incorporated into the People's Bus Service, further enhancing travel facilities.
Memon promptly issued planning and implementation instructions to establish connectivity between the Orange, Green and Red Line buses.
Secretary of Transport Saleem Rajpoot, CEO of Trans Karachi Tufail Palijo, Yellow Line Project Director Ameer Owaisi, Red Line General Manager Pir Sajjad, were also present on in the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2023.
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