Punjab launches 77 electric buses on 17 routes across seven more districts

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz on Thursday inaugurated 77 electric buses on 17 routes in seven more districts — Vehari, Lodhran, Kasur, Gujrat, Narowal, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib — expanding the province’s green public transport network.

According to an official handout, women, students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities will travel free of charge, while the fare for all other passengers has been fixed at Rs20. The buses are equipped with wheelchair ramps, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, CCTV monitoring and charging ports.

The handout said that 511 electric buses were already operational in 29 districts and one tehsil. With the latest addition, the number of operational electric buses has increased to 588 across 36 districts. Another 101 electric buses have already reached nine districts, while the remaining 488 buses are expected to arrive by the end of August 2026. It added that 1,500 more electric buses would be introduced across every tehsil of Punjab after the completion of the ongoing district-level project. Funds worth billions of rupees have been allocated for the initiative under the Annual Development Programme.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said the seven districts had received government-operated public transport for the first time. She described the Green Bus Service as a popular initiative that had made daily commuting easier for people travelling to educational institutions, hospitals and workplaces.

The CM Punjab said that during her visit to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, she realised the importance of the Green Bus Service, adding that demand for the facility there was higher than anywhere else she had seen. She expressed confidence that the number of electric buses in Punjab would reach 1,100 by the end of August.

The handout further stated that 11 electric buses had been allocated to each of the seven districts. In Gujrat, the buses will operate on routes from the General Bus Stand to Mangowal and Daulat Nagar. In Narowal, services will run from the General Bus Stand to Manga Pull, Shakargarh, Pasrur Chowk, Zafarwal and on the circular route.

In Kasur, buses will ply between the General Bus Stand and Kacha Paka, and between the General Bus Stand and Gajju Matta Stop. In Sheikhupura, services will operate from the e-bus depot to Shahdara Metro Station and Khanqah Dogran.

In Nankana Sahib, the buses will run from the General Bus Stand to Mor Khunda and Warburton. In Lodhran, the routes will connect Shaheed Islam Hospital with Kehror Pacca and Dunyapur. In Vehari, the buses will operate from Government Graduate College to Fawara and from Pir Mahal to Tibba Sultanpur.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026