CM Maryam vows to build Pakistan's largest public transport system at e-bus launch

• Punjab CM says 1,100 e-buses will be operational by end-August, with another 1,500 to join fleet this fiscal year

• Vows to deploy 5,000 electric buses across Punjab within the next five years

• Services to begin in nine more districts by end of July as expansion gathers pace

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday digitally inaugurated electric bus (e-bus) services in Layyah, Okara, Sialkot, Chiniot and Murree, reaffirming her government's commitment to deploying 5,000 electric buses across Punjab over the next five years as part of what she described as Pakistan's largest public transport system.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the chief minister said the government was on course to make 1,100 electric buses operational across the province by the end of August, adding that the same number of buses would be inducted under the first phase of the project while another 1,500 buses would join the fleet during the current financial year.

"گوجرانوالہ،گجرات ، شیخوپورہ ، ملتان ، وہاڑی، قصور ، لودھراں ،ننکانہ اور نارووال جیسے اضلاع میں بھی 101 بسز جا رہی ہیں۔ جب میں ویڈیوز دیکھتی ہوں کے صبح صبح خواتین اور سٹوڈنٹس سفر کر رہے ہوتے ہیں تو میں اللّٰہ کا شکر ادا کرتی ہوں کہ مجھے اس قابل کیا کہ میں نے ان کی سہولت کا کوئی… pic.twitter.com/Nqq1i1W9Y4

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 16, 2026

She appreciated Transport Minister Bilal Akbar and Transport Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch for their efforts in implementing the flagship public transport initiative.

According to a briefing presented by Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, 51 electric buses will initially operate on 10 routes across Layyah, Okara, Sialkot, Chiniot and Murree. Another 101 buses are scheduled to begin operations by the end of July in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Multan, Vehari, Kasur, Lodhran, Nankana Sahib and Narowal.

وزیر اعلی پنجاب مریم نواز شریف نے لیہ، اوکاڑہ، سیالکوٹ، چنیوٹ اور مری کیلئے الیکٹروبس سروس کا ڈیجیٹل آغاز کر دیا!! pic.twitter.com/pisWrM6YfW

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 16, 2026

The briefing stated that in Layyah, the buses will operate from the General Bus Stand to Paharpur and Tehsil Hospital. In Chiniot, 10 buses will ply the Tehsil Chowk-Bhowana and Lalian routes. In Okara, services will run from Sahiwal Bypass to KFC Bypass and from the General Bus Stand to Shergarh via Akhtarabad. In Sialkot, buses will operate between the General Bus Stand and Daska and Pasrur, while in Murree they will run from the General Bus Stand to Kotli Sattian and 17-Mile.

The transport minister further informed the meeting that 500 electric buses were already operating across 24 districts of Punjab.

وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف نے چینیوٹ ، لیہ ، اوکاڑہ ، سیالکوٹ اور مری میں گرین بس سروس کا افتتاح کر دیا۔ "یہ صرف پنجاب کا نہیں بلکہ پاکستان کی تاریخ کا سب سے بڑا الیکٹرک پبلک ٹرانسپورٹ سسٹم ہے۔ یہ ہمارے ڈھائی سال کے پراجیکٹ میں سب سے اہم پراجیکٹ ہے جس میں تقریباً پورے… pic.twitter.com/L3Z7tkpzYQ

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 16, 2026

The chief minister directed deputy commissioners to closely monitor the construction and rehabilitation of e-bus terminals and instructed deputy and assistant commissioners to ensure the prompt resolution of issues relating to the new transport service.

Speaking on the occasion, Maryam Nawaz described the launch of electric bus services in Layyah, Okara, Sialkot, Chiniot and Murree as a moment of satisfaction and gratitude. She congratulated the people and elected representatives of the five districts on the introduction of the service.

"Alhamdulillah, we are establishing not only Punjab's but Pakistan's largest public transport system," she said, adding that within two and a half years the electric bus project had gained widespread public acceptance.

وزیر اعلیٰ پنجاب مريم نواز شریف کا شاندار تحفہ!
پنجاب میں جدید، آرام ده اور ماحول دوست سفر کا نیا دور
طلباء ، بزرگوں اور اسپیشل افراد کے لیے فری سفری سہولت
جولائی کے اختتام تک گوجرانوالہ، گجرات، شیخوپورہ، ملتان، وہاڑی، قصور، لودھراں، ننکانہ صاحب اور نارووال میں بھی 101 نئی گرین… pic.twitter.com/g4uiDW5xTd

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 16, 2026

She said residents of remote and underdeveloped districts were now benefiting from modern, comfortable transport facilities, adding that electric buses were being extended to every tehsil of Punjab without any distinction between rural and urban areas.

Describing the Rs200 billion initiative as the province's largest public mega project, the chief minister expressed satisfaction that people in the newly covered districts would now also benefit from the service. She particularly welcomed the introduction of electric buses in the hilly terrain of Murree.

Maryam Nawaz said 1,100 buses would arrive in Punjab by August 15 and become operational by the end of August. With the induction of another 1,500 buses during the current fiscal year, nearly 3,000 electric buses would be operating across the province.

Sharing her long-term vision, she said she hoped at least 5,000 electric buses would be running across Punjab within the next five years.

By the will of God, 1,100 buses will be operating across Punjab by the end of August, reaching districts and tehsils. This year, another 1,500 buses will be added. Within three years, nearly 3,000 buses will serve the public, and my vision is to expand the fleet to at least 5,000… pic.twitter.com/md7HhY8KFM

— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 16, 2026

Referring to a video circulating on social media, the chief minister said she was pleased to see an elderly passenger peacefully sleeping while travelling on an electric bus, observing that the air-conditioned buses were a blessing during the summer season.

She said students, women and senior citizens were travelling free of charge on the electric bus service.

The chief minister also announced that electric bus services would become operational by the end of July in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Multan, Vehari, Kasur, Lodhran, Nankana Sahib and Narowal.

She said the number of passengers using the electric bus service had exceeded 300,000 and continued to grow every week, adding that the expanding e-bus network had become the largest public transport system in Pakistan.