Private operators to expand free transport

Over 60 shops, restaurants sealed in Lahore for austerity violations

LAHORE:

As the Punjab government continued to roll out free transport services and enforce energy-saving policies, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review the impact of high oil prices on fares and approved a series of measures aimed at cushioning the public from rising costs.

Officials said free public transport services would be expanded across 17 districts, with pilot projects approved for Gujranwala, Multan and Sialkot. The initiative is part of a broader plan to reduce the burden of rising fuel prices on daily commuters, particularly low- and middle-income groups.

Under the scheme, the government plans to deploy up to 1,000 buses through private operators who will be paid on a per-kilometre basis under a performance-linked model. Each bus will be required to operate between 100 and 200 kilometres per day, with payments capped at that limit.

Authorities said operators would bear costs related to fuel, drivers and maintenance, while the government would reimburse them on a weekly basis. No fares will be charged to passengers using the service.

In parallel, the provincial government has prepared an initial framework to expand free urban bus services across Punjab, with routes to be determined based on passenger demand and coverage gaps.

The move comes alongside stricter enforcement of energy conservation measures. In Lahore, district authorities sealed more than 60 shops and restaurants for violating prescribed business hours, part of an ongoing drive to reduce electricity consumption.

Under the directives, markets are required to close by 8pm, while restaurants and wedding halls must shut by 10pm. Officials said enforcement would continue, stressing that energy conservation remains a "national responsibility" amid the crisis.

The measures highlight a balancing act between enforcing austerity and maintaining economic activity. While earlier proposals to further restrict business hours faced resistance at the provincial level, local administrations have intensified compliance efforts within existing limits.