Maryam Nawaz Launches Major Green Transport Push: 240 Electric Buses for South Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the immediate rollout of 240 electric buses across 24 districts of South Punjab, marking a major policy shift toward equitable development in public transport.

Chairing a special meeting on Saturday, the CM stated, “The culture of prioritizing major cities must end. Every district matters equally to me.”

In the first phase, these buses will be introduced in South Punjab districts, followed by the deployment of 500 more e-buses in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Rawalpindi between August and October. By year’s end, an additional 600 buses will arrive.

Of these, 400 buses will be integrated into the Punjab Clean Air Programme in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Nankana Sahib.

Route planning will be based on actual commuter needs and patterns, and all project implementations are to be accelerated.

The meeting also reviewed the Gujranwala BRT project, which will span 22km from Rahwali to Aimanabad with 28 stations and 80 feeder buses. Officials discussed possibly extending it to Gakhar Mandi and establishing four electric depots.

Faisalabad’s Red Line and Orange Line projects were also examined. The Red Line is projected to serve 185,000 passengers daily over 23.4 km, while the Orange Line will span 29 km with a 111,000 passenger capacity.

CM Maryam Nawaz ordered the Red Line’s extension from the FIEDMC industrial estate to Salami Chowk to ensure greater utility for workers and the public.