KARACHI: After successful launch of the women-only ‘Pink Bus’ in Karachi, the Sindh government is set to extend the public transport service to Hyderabad — the second largest city of the province — from Feb 18, according to Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon.

He also announced at a press conference in his office on Monday that the Peoples Bus Service was also going to be launched in Sukkur from Feb 17.

“Similarly, the government is going to induct more buses into the Pink Bus fleet in Karachi,” he said.

“Currently the Pink Bus service in Karachi runs only on one route -- between Model Colony and Tower – and now we are going to inaugurate two more routes,” said Mr Memon.

He said all these routes would mainly benefit working women. These routes had been designed very carefully to provide fast and comfortable transport facility to a maximum number of women commuters, he added.

A second route would connect Power House Cho-wrangi in North Karachi with the Indus Hospital in Korangi covering Nagan Chowrangi, Shafiq Morr, Gulshan Chowrangi, Jau-har Morr, COD, Drigh Road, Sharea Faisal, Shah Faisal Colony, Singer Chow-rangi and Korangi No. 5.

The third route is between Numaish intersection and Seaview covering M.A. Jinnah Road, Zebunnisa Street, Metro-pole Hotel, Teen Talwar, Do Talwar, Abdu-llah Shah Ghazi Mazar, Dolmen Mall, McDonald’s and Clock Tower (Seaview).

The minister said the Sindh chief minister had held talks with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to further extend the Peoples Bus Service.

He also pointed out that the country’s first electric bus service, had already been launched in Karachi. Another big fleet of these vehicles had since arrived at the port, he said, adding that these electric buses would be brought on new routes soon. “The electric buses are eco-friendly as no fuel is used to run them. As such, these vehicles will help control pollution as well,” said Mr Memon.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2023