Summary for increase in Metro Bus service fare rejected

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi rejected the proposed Rs15 fare increase for the Metro Bus and Speedo Bus services while presiding over the 24th meeting of the Punjab Masstransit Authority at his office on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister Transport Ibrahim Hassan Murad, secretary finance and officials from the Punjab Masstransit Authority.Highlighting the importance of innovative revenue-generation strategies, CM stressed the need to explore alternative approaches instead of resorting to fare hikes.

An important decision was taken to initiate a pilot project for energy-efficient public transport. In collaboration with the World Bank, 27 electric buses are set to operate from Lahore Railway Station to Green Town. Moreover, plans were formulated to introduce electric buses for the Pakistan Metrobus System in Islamabad-Rawalpindi.

The CM issued directives for immediate action on the electric buses initiative and approved measures to address the shortage of human resources in the Punjab Masstransit Authority.

The CM directed repairing and maintaining metro bus tracks in both cities.

The proposal to operate diesel-hybrid regenerative buses was thoroughly discussed during the meeting. The government remains committed to providing secure and high-quality transport services to the commuters, he added.

Earlier, transport secretary informed meeting that the Punjab Masstransit Authority, which operates six bus services, has surpassed the target of serving over 1.25 billion passengers, adding that 25 thousand students daily use the Orange Line Metro Train to reach their destinations free of cost.

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