Afridi opens ‘pink bus’ service under BRT

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi formally inaugurated new hybrid buses being added to the Peshawar BRT fleet, as the dedicated Pink Bus Service for women. The ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Transport & Mass Transit Sami Ullah Khan, Secretary Transport & Mass Transit Muhammad Zubair, Managing Director Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority (KPUMA) Iftikhar Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer TransPeshawar Dr Syed Murtaza Asghar Bukhari, and others. Murtaza Asghar Bukhari briefed the participants on their performance over the past six years, services provided to citizens, key achievements, and future projects. Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi highlighted the significance of the new buses, dedicated Pink Bus Service, Solar Project, and Hayatabad Depot, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing initiatives aimed at providing citizens with modern, safe, reliable, and environment-friendly transport services. As part of the fleet expansion, new hybrid buses were inaugurated. With their addition, the Peshawar BRT fleet will increase from 244 to 296 buses. The expanded fleet will help improve service frequency on existing routes, reduce passenger waiting times, and facilitate the extension of the BRT network to new areas. A dedicated Pink Bus Service comprising five buses was also inaugurated to provide women with a safe, comfortable, and dignified travel option. The service will operate along the 21-kilometre corridor from Gulbahar Chowk to Karkhano Market, Monday to Friday, during morning, noon, and evening peak hours. The 1-MW Solar Project at Chamkani Depot was also inaugurated during the ceremony. The project is expected to generate approximately 1. 38 to 1. 44 million units of electricity annually, resulting in estimated annual savings of approximately PKR 74. 4 million. It is also expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 469 tonnes annually. The inauguration of the Mall of Hayatabad BRT Depot was another key component of the ceremony. The project will provide essential infrastructure to support the operational requirements of the expanding BRT fleet and network. The depot includes bus parking, inspection and workshop facilities, a fuel station, an automatic bus washing plant, and facilities for drivers and staff. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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