Faisalabad rolls out digital transport, EV initiatives

The Faisalabad divisional administration has unveiled plans to launch a comprehensive digital public transport system, including a mobile application offering real-time tracking of public transport and an electric vehicle (EV) battery-swapping network, as part of efforts to modernise urban mobility and promote green transport.

Speaking to reporters, Commissioner Faisalabad and President of the Faisalabad Urban Transport Society (FUTS) Imran Hamid Sheikh, said the newly developed Faisalabad Public Transport App would integrate government and private public transport services across the four districts of Faisalabad Division on a single digital platform.

He said the application would provide live tracking of government buses, metro buses, electric buses and registered urban Hiace vehicles, enabling commuters to monitor vehicle locations, schedules and routes in real time.

The commissioner said one of the app's key features would be route planning, allowing passengers to enter their destination and receive step-by-step guidance on which buses to take, where to change routes and the estimated arrival times of connecting services.

"The app has been developed purely for public convenience and will be available free of charge. Any regulatory arrangements will apply to transport operators, not passengers," he said.

According to Sheikh, the platform will also support the digital registration of public transport vehicles and will be linked with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).

He said registrations for transport operators are expected to begin within the next 15 days to one month before the app's official launch.

Describing it as a first-of-its-kind initiative, he said the system would be the first integrated digital public transport platform in Faisalabad and, potentially, in Punjab and Pakistan.