CM launches fare card for Peoples Bus Service

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah launched an automated fare card (AFC) for the Peoples Bus Service on Saturday.

The CM vowed to provide a modern, efficient, safe and smooth public transport system in the form of Peoples Bus Service to the people of the province. “This automated fare card has amazing features such as it is a contactless payment and has reloadable balance and compatibility with various transit systems,” he said at the launch ceremony for the automated card.

He said the people of Karachi had acknowledged the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government’s services to them by giving more votes to the party in the last general elections. He added that although the number of votes and seats gained by the PPP in Karachi was less than his expectations, he and his team were content that the people of Karachi had shown confidence in the PPP and its leadership.

Shah assured the people of Karachi that just like the government improved the terrorism situation in the city and controlled targeted killings, it would work towards putting an end to street crime. He said he aimed to make Karachi a peaceful and liveable megalopolis.

The ceremony was attended by the Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, Mastercard East Arabia Division President K Khalil and his team members.

The CM remarked that he was proud to have championed the great initiative of the AFC for the Sindh People’s Bus Service which promised to reshape the communication landscape of the country.

He said his government had consistently taken initiatives to adapt to changing circumstances, such as promoting digitisation, encouraging the use of eco-friendly electric buses and advancing energy conservation.

The Sindh government had set benchmarks for progress and revolution and the introduction of the AFC system symbolised a significant stride in its efforts towards facilitating cashless transactions and enhancing the efficiency and convenience of public transportation services, he added.

Initially, the implementation of the automated fare collection system had been inaugurated on two pivotal routes — the Route-1 from Model Colony in Malir to Tower and Route-9 from Gulshan-e-Hadeed to Tower, he said, adding that this phased approach would allow the transport department to evaluate its efficacy before extending it to additional routes.

Shah announced that the commencement of the system on the remaining routes was scheduled to be accomplished progressively within 90 days.

Addressing the ceremony, Sindh Senior Minister for Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon said that work on the Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit project had also started. The operations of the Peoples Bus in Karachi and other districts would be improved, he added.

Earlier, the CM and Memon inaugurated the AFC for the Peoples Bus Service with a fare smartcard by boarding a bus after punching the card.