Zartaj Gul opens tree plantation in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: TransPeshawar on Wednesday said that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), an urban transport system, has helped in reduction of the greenhouse gases up to 31,000 tons.

TransPeshawar Chief Executive Officer Fayyaz Khan during a briefing to Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul about the BRT’s operational structure, features, and services said that Asian Development Bank had conducted the study through a consultant which had found that BRT had helped in the reduction of 31, 000 tons of greenhouse gases.

The TransPeshawar chief said the BRT daily ride has reached 165, 000 and have crossed 182,000 when the Covid-19 restrictions were relaxed. “We have the lowest fare in the country. We have a 1.96 benefit-cost ratio”, he added.

The official said 158 out of the total 220 buses were operational while the rest of the buses would be brought after completion of the Hayatabad depot. We have also constructed a two-kilometre skywalk.

Zartaj Gul inaugurated the tree plantation drive at the TransPeshawar office in Chamkani. She said Pakistan was among the countries which were facing the effects of climate change. Therefore, every Pakistani should plant trees. Provincial Minister Transport Shah Muhammad Wazir was also present on the occasion.

The minister said that the KP government had done a good job for the environment and the federal government was replicating the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project in other parts of the country.

The minister said that BRT Peshawar was Pakistan’s first-ever environment-friendly public transport system. She added that any political party criticizing this project must come and visit the system as BRT Peshawar was better than any of the systems in Pakistan. She also took a ride in BRT.

Zartaj Gul said that the BRT had created more than 3,000 direct jobs. She added that BRT had raised awareness among the masses about using technology for the good of the public.

The minister accused the opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of carrying out propaganda against the BRT for seven years.

“The opposition parties are targeting BRT for political gains. The BRT is completely different from Metro Bus or Orange Train for being an environment-friendly project. Women and families could not travel in the previous transport system and BRT has provided them with the best option to commute between their workplaces and homes.

She alleged that the Rs25 billion recovered from the accounts of the staff of opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was actually kickbacks in the Metro Bus and Orange Train projects.