The Sindh cabinet has granted approval for an agreement to introduce 50 electric buses in Karachi, with Provincial Minister Sharjeel Memon disclosing that the Sindh government will cover the fare expenses for these buses, which will transition to government property after eight years.
Under the approved plan, a six-month fare subsidy totaling PKR 412.5 million has been sanctioned, with an annual allocation of PKR 825 million for the subsequent seven years. Currently, 50 buses are operational on three designated routes, as outlined by Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.
Following the cabinet session, Minister Memon briefed the media on pivotal decisions aimed at enhancing the welfare of Sindh’s populace. Notable initiatives include the recruitment of new teachers, crackdowns on debris dumping in roads and drains, and digitization efforts across 16 out of 48 provincial departments.
Furthermore, land near the Malir Expressway will be leased, and substantial funding has been earmarked for the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, with oversight responsibilities delegated to a committee led by the Chief Secretary of Sindh.
An Export Processing Zone will be established on Steel Mills’ land to rejuvenate the Steel Mills, while initiatives to register domestic workers and develop housing societies for government employees are also underway. Lower-grade employees will be provided plots at nominal rates, with extensive land allocations dedicated to this purpose.
Expanding the electric bus network, plans are underway to introduce new routes, with an ambitious goal of introducing 8,000 eco-friendly buses in the future. Additionally, the cabinet has greenlit a project to supply 100 MGD of water from Hub Dam to Karachi residents.
Minister Memon underscored that no government funds have been utilized for the electric buses, which are domestically manufactured, expressing appreciation for this progressive development.
