The e-bus service in Rawalpindi is set to launch next year to alleviate commuting challenges faced by residents. This service will operate on six routes, including one from Taxila, Wah Cantt, IJ Principal Road to Chongi No 26, and another connecting Daultala with Rawalpindi. Maintenance work on the Metro Bus tracks will take place from June to December this year, according to Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan.
During a press conference, Khan mentioned his regular visits to Rawalpindi, following directives from Chief Minister Mariyam Nawaz Sharif, to tackle transportation and traffic management issues. Consultations with national and provincial assembly members are ongoing, and suggestions from local MNAs and MPAs are being considered for route planning.
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Khan criticized the previous government for neglecting the Metro Bus service, which began eight to nine years ago, and announced that track repairs will start in June and finish by December. He highlighted that the Metro Bus service, which millions of citizens use, has disproved negative propaganda against the PML-N. Without it, road conditions would have significantly worsened.
The Punjab government’s key initiatives include adding 32 new field hospitals within 100 days, providing free treatment to about 35,000 people daily, addressing harassment complaints, and launching the e-bikes project. This project aims to provide 20,000 students with motorbikes on interest-free, two-year installments, including 7,500 e-bikes for female applicants. The government is also digitizing institutions and offering doorstep delivery of vehicle certificates through the Dastak project, with a fee of Rs900.
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Khan refuted claims of political victimization and vandalism, dismissing opposition allegations of election theft as outdated. He criticized the previous government for causing inflation by breaching the IMF agreement in 2022 but assured that the current government plans to reduce electricity and gas prices in consultation with the IMF.