Sindh govt to procure 50 new buses for People's Bus Service expansion

The Sindh government has decided to purchase 50 additional buses for the People's Bus Service.

In a meeting chaired by Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, it was decided to acquire 50 new buses for the service.

Sharjeel Inam Memon directed the Mass Transit Authority and other relevant officials to expedite preparations for the bus procurement. He stated that the Sindh government is committed to modernizing public transport in Karachi.

He stated that this step aims to provide affordable and comfortable travel to citizens while modernizing urban transport.

He emphasized the need for swift implementation to meet the growing transportation needs of the public. The senior minister also directed the speedy completion of work on the People's Bus Service stations.

Earlier Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah instructed the Planning and Development (P&D) Department to expedite the approval process for 162 development schemes, valued at Rs75.639 billion, as part of Karachi’s Rs187.3 billion development portfolio.

These schemes have an allocation of Rs14.8 billion for the 2024-25 financial year, with completion targeted by the next fiscal year. The urgency reflects the need to start work without delay, he said during a meeting held at CM House on Monday.

The meeting was attended by various ministers and officials, including P&D Minister Nasir Shah and Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah.

Sindh government set to take over Green Line bus service in December 2024

Earlier this month, the Sindh government completed preparations to take over the operations of the Green Line bus service, with the federal government scheduled to transfer the service to Sindh in December 2024.

In a high-level meeting chaired by Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, the operations of the Green Line bus service were reviewed. Memon highlighted that the Green Line project is a vital part of Karachi’s public transport system. He also expressed hope that the connection to the Orange Line would be completed before the transfer date.

He noted that the federal government has provided a Rs2 billion subsidy for Green Line operations, which will be reviewed by the Sindh government. Once the project is officially transferred, additional buses will be added to improve transport services for citizens.