Govt to launch Green Bus Service in Quetta

The provincial administration of Balochistan is all set to launch the much-awaited inter-city Green Bus Service in the provincial capital to provide quality transport services to citizens.

The bus service will begin its operations on 17 July (Monday).

Chief Minister Mir Quddus Bizenjo in a statement termed the project a positive stride towards the provision of decent transportation to the masses of Quetta. Similarly, Chief Secretary Balochistan Abdul Aziz Uqaili took to Twitter to announce the formal launch of the bus service in this provincial capital.

Dr Faisal Ahmed Khan, Chief of the Balochistan Public-Private Partnership Project, has been instrumental in the implementation of the project.

A well-placed source in the provincial government told The Express Tribune that all stakeholders have been taken on board with regard to the launching of the much-awaited green bus project in the provincial capital.

However, he explained that after thorough deliberations, the government decided to purchase eight buses to facilitate the public. During the pilot project, four buses would operate from Serena Chowk Quetta to Belili while the other four would ply on a route to Sariab Customs.

It is pertinent to mention that the project was approved by the Jam Kamal Khan-led government.

The launching of the project was aimed at providing decent transportation to the citizens of Quetta. However, the green bus service could not be timely launched because of bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of political commitment.

Other provinces have already implemented similar plans by introducing metro bus services in places like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Multan.

Quetta, which has a population of three million, has only seven routes for buses and has had an old public transport system for the last three decades. There are only seven routes for the buses, making it difficult for people to commute.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2023.