EV charging station to be solarised
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated the Punjab Transport Company headquarters and Electric Vehicle Command and Control Centre.
During a visit, the chief minister also saw an automatic washing plant for electric buses. She was informed that the plant recycles water for reuse. The chief minister inspected the charging station where Yutong's 160-kilowatt system can fully charge an electric bus within 105 minutes.
She visited the Command and Control Centre and sought a timeline for the induction of 1,500 new buses.
She ordeted that the bus charging system be shifted to solar energy at the earliest and instructed officials to identify new routes for green electric buses. She also ordered improved arrangements in view of rising passenger numbers and additional buses at locations where commuters face long waiting times.
She ordered that carbon credits under the Green Bus Project be claimed. She also commended the dedication shown by electric bus crews in assisting persons with special meeds. She said the launch of green buses had set passenger records across Punjab. The chief minister said the government wanted to launch metro bus projects in Faisalabad and Gujranwala at the earliest.
She added that electric buses are providing the public a comfortable travel facility. She said the Punjab government is giving top priority to the convenience and safety of citizens, especially women and children.
She said smart travel systems are offering faster and easier commuting, while electric buses are helping reduce pollution and smog. "Providing clean, safe and modern public transport to the people of Punjab is our foremost priority," she said.
Punjab Transport Company CEO Kausar Khan stating that over 15.5 million passengers had travelled on electric buses across Punjab so far. More than 3.8 million women and over 1.5 million students have benefited from free travel along with 750,000 senior citizens and 300,000 special persons.
The Punjab Transport Company has launched an initiative under which special tuck shops have been established at e-bus stations to provide widows and divorced women business opportunities. So far, 10 women have been provided tuck shops at new bus stops in Lahore.