Islamabad has expanded its electric public transport network with the induction of a new fleet of electric buses, increasing the total number of buses operating across the capital to 160 on 21 routes. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi inaugurated the newly added buses along with a purpose built depot and charging station, reinforcing the government’s focus on sustainable urban mobility and improved mass transit facilities in the federal capital.
During the launch ceremony, the minister reviewed operational arrangements and later took a ride on one of the electric buses alongside senior officials. He received a detailed briefing on fleet management, depot operations, and the charging infrastructure that supports the growing network. Officials informed that the service is currently catering to approximately 125,000 passengers daily, with plans to increase ridership to 250,000 in the coming months. Special attention has been given to ensuring that students can conveniently access major routes, making the service more inclusive for daily commuters. The minister acknowledged the efforts of the project team for timely execution and emphasized the importance of maintaining service standards as demand increases.
Authorities also announced that the electric bus service will be extended to Rawat, strengthening connectivity between Islamabad and adjoining areas and integrating further with the existing metro network to ease traffic congestion in the twin cities. In addition, the restoration of the Rawalpindi Islamabad local rail service was confirmed as part of broader efforts to enhance multimodal urban transport. The minister shared that Heavy Industries Taxila is preparing to initiate local manufacturing of electric buses, which is expected to support domestic production capabilities and reduce reliance on imports in the long term.
According to officials, the newly established depot has the capacity to accommodate 64 charging units, of which 50 have already been installed, while 14 additional units will be added shortly. Each charging unit is capable of powering two buses within approximately two hours, ensuring operational continuity across routes. The entire charging and monitoring system has been integrated with Google to enable real time monitoring and navigation support. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials including the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Inspector General Islamabad Police, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, and other relevant authorities, highlighting coordinated institutional support for the capital’s expanding electric transport infrastructure.
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