Two students from Pakistan have developed a mobile application designed to help commuters navigate Punjab’s electric bus service more effectively, addressing a gap in the availability of accurate and accessible route and schedule information for daily passengers. The idea, according to one of the developers, Muhammad Ghayas, emerged from a personal experience in which he waited at a bus stop for nearly half an hour, only to discover that the last bus on his route had already departed. That moment of frustration became the catalyst for a practical solution that he and his co-developer, Rizwan Ali, set out to build together.
The application provides users with comprehensive information on electric bus routes, stops, and departure timings, and is designed to send notifications in the event of any schedule or route changes. Ghayas noted that the app draws on publicly available data and presents it in a straightforward format that is easy for everyday commuters to navigate. Notably, the application is also capable of functioning without an active internet connection, which significantly broadens its utility for users in areas with inconsistent connectivity. At present, the app covers routes across six to seven major cities, and the developers have received requests from users in other cities to have their routes included as well.
Despite not yet being listed on the Google Play Store, the application has already attracted considerable attention after being shared on Instagram, where it garnered over 50,000 views within two days and was downloaded by more than 500 users. It is currently accessible through a dedicated website. Rizwan Ali acknowledged that the project remains in its early stages and does not yet feature live bus tracking, a capability that would require formal coordination with the relevant government authorities before it could be integrated into the platform.
Looking ahead, the student developers have reached out to the Punjab Chief Minister’s office, the Punjab Transport Authority, and the Punjab Information Technology Board, seeking institutional support to advance the application further, particularly with regard to the addition of live tracking functionality. The initiative reflects a broader trend of young Pakistani technologists stepping in to address public service gaps through homegrown digital solutions, and if it receives the government backing the developers are seeking, it could serve as a meaningful addition to Punjab’s evolving public transport infrastructure.
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