KARACHI: A range of steps have been initiated by the Sindh provincial government to increase and improve the transport facilities in the province. This includes launching Sindh EV taxi service next month, introducing 50 double-decker buses in Karachi within the next two months, and introducing 1,000 electric buses within this year. This decision is a major milestone for the Sindh government in improving its transport system.
The decisions were taken in a meeting held by the Department of Transport and Mass Transit headed by the Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, on Tuesday. In the meeting, progress on the projects related to the transport was reviewed and approval was granted for introducing new People's Bus Services routes from Larkana to Qambar and from Qambar to Shahdadkot.
The conference also made a decision regarding the opening of part of the mixed traffic lane on University Road in Karachi to motor vehicles in September, with the aim of alleviating traffic congestion amid construction activities being carried out in the region.
The directions given by Sharjeel Inam Memon to his officials include completing the construction of the bus stations for the BRT project on the Red Line and facilitating the start of new routes of intercity People's Bus Service. The fact that both the projects are being facilitated at the same time implies that there are efforts made to speed up many transport schemes at once.
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In the words of Memon, the EV taxi project in Sindh will become functional in September 2026, which signals the province’s entry into ride services that use electric vehicles. It can be considered an important step towards using cleaner transportation technology for mobility in the province.
In addition to the introduction of EV taxis, 50 double-decker buses are also anticipated to be introduced in Karachi in October 2026. The introduction of double-decker buses will mean that there is a new type of bus being used in the city’s transportation system, which could mean carrying more passengers without needing as many buses.
It was also revealed by Memon that 1,000 more electric buses would be phased in for inclusion into the fleet of the province’s public transport system starting from the end of 2026. This massive addition is considered to be one of the most ambitious elements of the proposed plan.
Over the years, the city has been plagued by its public transport system that has been overburdened with buses that are crowded and have irregular time tables in addition to having poor coverage throughout the city's extensive areas. In light of all this, the launch of the Sindh EV taxis along with the arrival of double decker buses and electric buses will bring respite to many commuters in the city.
The Minister stated that the provincial government is still devoted to extending public transport networks in Sindh that would be safe, green, and reliable. He stated that the programs, such as introduction of Sindh EV taxis, double deckers buses, and phase-based electric bus extension are aimed at improving overall urban mobility and promoting sustainable transport options.
Given the fact that many projects will start overlapping each other by September 2026, the officials responsible for implementation of these programs might face the need to coordinate logistics of introducing these new types of transportation into use.