Karachi – July 8, 2025
The Sindh government is pushing forward with a major green mobility initiative to deploy 1,000 electric buses across Karachi, following Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s approval to appoint transaction advisers for the multi-billion-rupee project.
The decision came during a meeting of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy Board held on Friday, where key stakeholders reviewed the progress of the Peoples Green Transport Project — a flagship public transport plan that aims to reshape urban commuting in Pakistan’s largest city.
Presiding over the meeting, CM Shah endorsed the technical committee’s recommendation to move ahead using previously appointed transaction advisers. Officials said this step would help fast-track the process and avoid delays in procurement by leveraging earlier groundwork.
The meeting was attended by several senior figures, including provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Saeed Ghani, and Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, as well as Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PPP Unit DG, and Transport Secretary Asad Zamin.
Phased Rollout of 1,000 Buses
The board was informed that transaction advisers will evaluate a proposal submitted by a private consortium interested in participating in the project. If found viable, the electric bus system will be rolled out in two phases:
- 600 buses of 12-metre length
- 400 buses of eight-metre length
The plan also includes the construction of 10 dedicated bus depots across the city. The buses will operate under a per-kilometre payment model over a 10-year concession period, after which the infrastructure and assets will transfer to the Sindh government.
Officials said the project aligns with the city’s long-term sustainable urban transport goals, aiming to reduce emissions, alleviate congestion, and modernize public transport for Karachi’s overburdened road network.
Updates on Other Projects
In addition to the transport project, the PPP Policy Board also reviewed updates on the Shahrah-e-Bhutto High-Speed Corridor, which will span 39 kilometres from Korangi Creek Avenue in DHA to the M-9 Motorway near Kathore. The corridor is expected to significantly improve travel time and boost connectivity between southern and northern parts of Karachi.
Progress on the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was also discussed, with officials expressing hope that the industrial zone will generate jobs and drive regional economic growth once operational.
Sindh Goes Digital with ‘e-Cabinet App’
Separately, CM Murad Ali Shah gave the green light to launch the e-Cabinet App, a digital platform aimed at transforming how cabinet meetings are prepared and managed.
The app promises 100% paperless operations, cutting down meeting prep time by more than half and saving the government over Rs11 million annually in paper alone — not counting additional savings from reduced fuel, printing, staffing, and other overheads.
The system will streamline the entire decision-making process, from CM summaries to cabinet and finance committee documentation, bringing greater transparency, security, and efficiency to governance.
