The biggest concern of the people of Karachi is the dilapidated state of public transport, which is not just an inconvenient experience but a safety hazard.
Traveling by buses in the metropolis has been a nightmare for a long time and a grade 6 poem titled ‘Zero is happening’ is a real-life experience – about the harrowing experience of traveling by bus in the metropolis. There is a description.
However, after decades of complaints and an almost complete shift of people to rickshaws and private cab services – which are increasingly popular despite the ever-increasing fuel prices – the Sindh government took charge and launched not one, but three new services. By: Pink Bus, People’s Bus and People’s Electric Bus.
Women-only Pink Bus
Launched on February 1, Pink Bus is a service that caters only to women across the city. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced this on Twitter.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader wrote: “Transport Department, Government of Sindh will start a new bus service in Karachi from tomorrow. It will be exclusively for women”.
Shaheed Benazir Bhutto always taught us about Women Empowerment. She initiated many projects to strengthen the position of women in our society. Transport Dept. Govt. of Sindh will start new bus service in Karachi from tomorrow. This will be exclusively for Women. #PinkBusKarachi pic.twitter.com/4rmO0Hdq7j
— Sharjeel Inam Memon (@sharjeelinam) January 31, 2023
Following is the bus route shared by Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA):
At present there is only one bus route which starts from Model Colony and ends at the tower after passing through Shahrah Faisal Road and II Chandrigar Road.
Public bus service
In June 2022, Karachi welcomed the People’s Bus Service. The best part of this service: It won’t cost you more than Rs 50 (depending on your route of course).
This bus service was inaugurated by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The politician himself took a ride in the bus to inspect the facilities.
A total of 240 red hybrid air-conditioned buses have been procured from China for the intra-district bus project.
The public bus service has the following routes:
Route 1: This 29 km long route covers the busiest arteries of the city, passing through Shahrah Faisal. It starts from Model Colony and passes through Miller Halt, Drug Road, Karsaz, Metropole and finally ends at Tower.
Route 2: This route is 32.9 km long and starts from North Karachi and ends at Indus Hospital. Buses on this route pass through Nagan Chowrangi, Nipa, Shah Faisal Colony and Singer Chowrangi.
Route 3: Starting from Nagan Chowrangi, this 33 km route takes a detour towards North Nazimabad Town, Civic Centre, National Stadium and KPT Interchange and ends at Sangar Chowrangi.
Route 4: This route starts from North Karachi via New Karachi, University Road, Motorway M9, Ayesha Manzil, Lalu Khet, Guru Mandir, Empress Market, Sindh High Court, II Chandrigar Road and ends at Dockyard.
Routes 5, 6 and 7 are currently not operating due to ongoing road maintenance work.
Route 8: Designated for Larkana (Intra City).
Route 9: The route starting from Shireen Jinnah Colony goes to Lyari via Boat Basin, My Kolachi, Local Jetty and Maripur Road.
Route 10: This route starts from Nizam Chowrangi and passes through Clock Tower, Clifton, MA Jinnah Road, Tower, II Chandragarh Road, Arts Council, Metropolitan Hotel, Marriott Hotel, Tin Talwar, Du Talwar, Abdullah Shah Ghazi and Dolmen ends at Mall.
Route 11: This route leads to Shahrah Faisal and connects Gulshan Hadid Tower.
People’s Electric Bus Service
The Transport Minister along with Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Sindh Labor Minister Saeed Ghani inaugurated the People’s Electric Bus Service at Clock Tower, Sea View on January 13.
“These buses, which run on fully stored battery, are of European standard and will not emit any kind of pollution,” the minister said, adding that along with reduction in pollution, these buses would offer lower fares to citizens. Travel facilities will be provided.
This bus is part of the People’s Bus service and travels on route 12 of the service.
Route 12: Starting from Malir Cantt Check Post 6, this bus will pass through Shahrah Faisal, FTC Building, Korangi Road and Khayaban Ittihad and circle Clock Tower at Sea View. This bus is unique in that it goes to Jinnah International Airport and costs only 50 rupees.
Moreover, People’s Bus Service has already been started in Hyderabad and soon it will be started in Sukkur as well.
