PESHAWAR: The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has launched new hybrid buses, the Pink Bus Service for women. Similarly, the solarisation of the Chamkani Depot and the newly established Mall of Hayatabad Depot as part of measures to expand and improve Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services was also inaugurated. A formally opening ceremony was held in which Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi unveiled to plaque to formally inaugurate these aforementioned initiatives. The Chief Minister said he had promised Pink Buses for women across the province and that the buses were now on the roads. He announced that women travelling in Pink Buses would be charged a fare 25 percent lower than that applicable on other buses. Appreciating the women drivers of the Pink Bus Service, the Chief Minister said they were role models for other women. A detailed briefing was given at the ceremony on the new hybrid buses, Pink Bus Service, solarisation of the Chamkani Depot, establishment of the Mall of Hayatabad Depot and key features of the projects. Participants were informed that the BRT service was providing daily transportation facilities to around 250, 000 commuters, approximately 30 percent of whom were women. The BRT system was also reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 30, 000 tonnes annually. It was further stated that the continued expansion of the BRT system was evidence of the success of the project. With the addition of 52 new buses, the total BRT fleet had increased to 296 buses. The new buses would facilitate the opening of additional routes and help reduce passenger pressure on existing routes. The Pink Bus Service had also been introduced to address the specific transportation needs of women passengers. In the first phase, five Pink Buses would operate on selected routes during peak hours. The number of Pink Buses and their routes would be gradually expanded. The procurement and construction process for 50 additional buses and a new depot, at a cost of Rs6. 2 billion, was also under way. Additionally, another 50 buses had also been included in the current Annual Development Programme at a cost of Rs5 billion. An amount of Rs1. 5 billion had additionally been allocated for complete solarisation of the BRT system. Upon completion, the full solarisation of the BRT project would further reduce electricity costs. The ceremony was also informed that there was currently no fully electric bus service in Pakistan, while the BRT system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had achieved this objective. Officials said solarisation of the Chamkani Depot would generate annual savings of Rs76 million. A 1 MW solar power system had been completed at the Chamkani Depot and would generate 1. 44 million units of electricity annually. Earlier, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi travelled with members of the public in a BRT bus to attend the inauguration ceremony. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
KP govt launches ‘Pink Bus Service’
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