E-bus network expanded

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that 70 more electric buses will be brought to Lahore by December.

Inauguration Phase-II of electric bus project in Lahore, she said the.number electric buses in the division would reach 500.

The chief minister announced plans to launch metro bus in Gujranwala and Faisalabad by next month, besides introducing a new sewerage and drainage system across Punjab.

She said electric buses would be launched in Nankana Sahib, Kasur, and Sheikhupura as well. She said her government was deviating from the tradition of limiting utilisation of resources to major cities.

She highlighted that electric buses were operating in Mianwali, Wazirabad, Sargodha and Sahiwal, where passenger turnout had exceeded expectations. Free travel is available for senior citizens, students and differently-abled individuals.

She added, "My own car doesn't have Wi-Fi or CCTV, but these buses do have all such facilities like mobile charging ports and ramps for wheelchair access."

She said 90,000 houses are under construction across Punjab under the 'Apni Chhat Apna Ghar' scheme, with a target of constructing 100,000 homes by November.

She said clean drinking water will be supplied to homes. Underground tanks are being built to harvest and manage rainwater efficiently.

She said construction of 25km of roads has been planned in every village, while 2,500 rural settlements, mostly in South Punjab, are being developed as model villages with facilities like parks, paved streets, sanitation and drainage systems.