MULTAN: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated an electric bus service in Multan with an initial fleet of 60 buses, saying the service would be extended to all routes of the city and that another 100 buses would be provided in the coming days.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Maryam said the green electric bus project was “very close to the hearts of the people” and described it as part of her government’s efforts to provide safe, affordable and environmentally friendly public transport across Punjab.
She said the fare for the service was Rs20, while women, students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities would be allowed to travel free of charge.
“All routes of Multan will have green electric buses,” she said, adding that the government was starting the service with 60 buses.
Maryam said the buses were air-conditioned and equipped with free Wi-Fi and charging facilities, while CCTV cameras had been installed to improve security, particularly for women.
She said special arrangements had also been made for persons with disabilities, including wheelchair and ramp facilities.
The chief minister said that the government had provided electric bus services across Punjab’s districts without discrimination.
“There is no division of any area in my mind,” she said, adding that every person living in Punjab was her responsibility.
Maryam said that she did not want anyone to travel on the roofs of buses during her government, saying the new transport system was intended to provide commuters with a safer and more dignified mode of travel.
She also said the government would provide another 100 electric buses to Multan in the coming days.
Focus on South Punjab
Maryam used the occasion to highlight infrastructure and development projects in Multan and South Punjab, saying her government was working to change the region’s development landscape.
She referred to the Multan-Vehari road, saying the route had previously been known as a “killer road” and that the government had completed the project within a year.
She said the road had reduced travel time between Multan and Vehari and described the project as part of a broader effort to improve road connectivity in South Punjab.
“If I get another two and a half years, we will change the map of South Punjab,” she said.
The chief minister also highlighted the establishment of an Agriculture Mall in Multan, saying farmers were being provided seeds, fertilisers, medicines and machinery under one roof.
She said the government was working to provide facilities to farmers without requiring them to visit different offices or markets for essential agricultural inputs.
Cancer hospital highlighted
Maryam also spoke about healthcare projects in Multan, particularly the newly inaugurated cancer treatment facility.
She said the Multan cancer hospital would provide treatment not only to residents of South Punjab but also to patients from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan.
She said modern equipment had been installed at the hospital and that specialist doctors were being appointed.
The chief minister also referred to a cancer-treatment machine installed at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital, saying patients had been successfully treated using the technology.
She said a second machine had now been installed in Multan and recalled meeting two women who had received treatment there.
According to Maryam, the treatment had taken about 45 minutes in those cases.
Electric bikes for students
Maryam said the Punjab government was also working to expand electric mobility beyond public transport.
She announced plans to provide 100,000 electric bikes to students across Punjab, linking the initiative to the government’s broader effort to promote environmentally friendly transportation.
She also referred to the government’s efforts to reduce smog, saying electric buses were environmentally friendly and that the province had made progress in controlling smog.
Housing, schools and security
Maryam also cited the provincial government’s Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing programme, saying two million homes had been completed under the scheme and that 125,000 people had moved into their houses.
The Punjab government’s flagship housing project was selected this week for a UN award, with the provincial government invited to receive the award in Muscat on Oct 5 during World Habitat Day.
She also said around 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence were being established across Punjab and that thousands of children were already studying in the institutions.
Turning to law and order, the chief minister said the security situation in Punjab had improved and credited police and Counter Terrorism Department personnel who had been killed in the line of duty.
She said she had faced pressure and warnings over possible cases against her but had not been deterred.
“I was repeatedly threatened that cases would be registered against you tomorrow. I am not afraid,” she said.
Maryam said avoiding cases against herself would not be worthwhile if it came at the cost of compromising the dignity and security of the public.
Reference to recent Punjab-KP tensions
The chief minister also referred to the recent confrontation involving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during his visit to Lahore.
She alleged that people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had come to Punjab to “attack” the province and said that the KP chief minister had forcibly entered a Punjab police vehicle.
Maryam said that his visit to Lahore had failed to achieve its purpose.
She also responded to criticism concerning the use of the Punjab government’s aircraft, saying it belonged to the provincial government rather than to her personally.
“Maryam Nawaz’s aircraft does not exist; it belongs to the Punjab government,” she said.
She further said criticism directed at her was effectively criticism of Punjab’s development projects.
Petrol prices and inflation
Addressing the pressure from rising petroleum prices, Maryam attributed the increase in fuel prices and subsequent inflation to the Iran-US war.
She said she did not want to place an additional burden on people’s pockets because of inflation.
The chief minister also highlighted the government’s decision to provide free or subsidised public transport facilities to sections of the population as part of efforts to reduce their commuting costs.
Maryam said the people of Multan had given her a warm welcome and that the affection shown by the city’s residents would remain in her memory.
“When the green bus is running, think that Nawaz Sharif’s daughter had come,” she said.
The Multan launch is part of Punjab’s broader expansion of electric public transport. The provincial government said last week that 612 electric buses were already operational in different districts, with another 192 buses expected to become operational within days. It has also approved the deployment of 1,500 electric buses in 91 tehsils from January 2027, while targeting 3,000 electric buses across Punjab by June 2027.
The government had announced in August that an electric bus service would soon be launched in Multan, while officials were also working on expansion of the service to other parts of the district.
Punjab had earlier announced a much broader electric-mobility programme covering electric buses, e-bikes, e-taxis and electric three-wheelers. In July, the government said it planned to deploy 5,000 electric buses across the province over five years and that around 400 electric buses were already operating at the time.
PAK SOUCH MEDIA GROUP
Daily Pak Souch Newspaper Sukkur – Daily Pak Special Newspaper Karachi – Daily Pak Today Newspaper Karachi – Daily Pak Jazbo Newspaper Sukkur
Head Office : Ayub Gate Shaikh Muhalla Near Rabbania Masjid Sukkur
Karachi Office : Office No. 1901-B, 19th Floor Saima Trade Tower (B) Block I.I Chandigarh Road Near Jung Press, Shaheen Complex & National Museum of Pakistan Karachi Sindh Pakistan.
Contact : 03009319022
Website 1 : https://paksouch.com/
Website 2 : https://sindhi.paksouch.com/
Website 3 : https://pakjazbo.com/
Website 4 : https://urdu.pakjazbo.com/
About The Author
