KARACHI: The Government of Sindh, under the chairmanship of Senior Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon, has announced a series of major decisions to overhaul the province’s public transport network. As part of a new public-private partnership (PPP) model, the government plans to auction exclusive transit routes to private investors, which will be operated using modern, air-conditioned Electric Vehicles (EVs) to encourage private investment and enhance the commuting experience. In addition to these exclusive routes, the transport department is fast-tracking the launch of the Larkana-Qambar Peoples Bus Service route to boost regional trade, preparing for the arrival of new double-decker buses in Karachi, and finalizing stakeholder consultations for the upcoming eco-friendly EV Taxi service.
The minister also reviewed the performance of existing mass transit projects, noting a significant surge in daily ridership, with the Green Line BRT growing from 50,000 to 81,000 passengers and the Orange Line increasing from 1,800 to 9,800. While the integration of Pink Buses into the Green Line route has received an overwhelmingly positive response from women, the minister took strict notice of the misuse of the women-only Pink Scooters. He issued clear directives to law enforcement to immediately confiscate any Pink Scooters being driven by men and warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone attempting to alter the color or wrap of these dedicated vehicles. Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Memon emphasized that all ongoing and proposed transit projects will be completed on time to ensure modern, safe, and sustainable travel options for the public.
