Pakistan’s metropolitan city Karachi roads are all set to welcome five diesel-run double-decker and another 34 EV (electric vehicle) buses in January 2026, Sindh government officials told media.
This will revive the mass bus service after a gap of six to seven decades in the fast growing populous city also known as the country’s economic hub and the city of two seaports.
The Sindh government has imported as many as 39 buses, including five double-decker and 34 EV buses, at a cost of Rs3 billion from China.
The vehicles are in the process of getting clearance from the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) these days, it was learnt.
“We have planned to run the double-decker buses on Shahrah-e-Faisal in Karachi via Model Colony to/from Tower route as soon as the buses get clearance from the port,” Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) Managing Director Kanwal Nizam Bhutto said.
Double-decker buses to roll out across Karachi soon: Sharjeel Memon
“The double-decker buses have seating arrangements for about 115-120 people. They are air conditioned (AC) vehicles. The top-roof of the buses can be uncovered during pleasant weather, and the roof can remain in place during sunny and rainy weather. The buses are being introduced on a heavy public route; the Model Colony-Tower route,” she elaborated.
A big quantum of the import price was paid in Customs and other import taxes.
Sindh transport minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has planned to formally roll-out the newly imported buses on the city roads in a ceremony to be held later this week or the next week – depending upon the availability of the high provincial officials, according to Bhutto.
The five diesel-run double decker buses are being run in the phase, as the provincial government aims to import more buses for the city’s heavy populous routes in the next phase.
“Besides, Sindh government will run EV buses on new routes, including on Gulshan-e-Maymar.to/from Tower and extend Peoples Bus Service to four new cities and district in the upper Sindh; Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sukkur and Shikarpur soon,” Bhutto said.
“We are considering whether to import more diesel-run double-decker buses or import EV double-decker buses in the upcoming phase.”
To recall, the city used to run double-decker buses in 1960’s and even up to 1970’s.
A senior citizen named Naseem Ahmed recalled Gujrat transport company used to run the double decker buses in Karachi sometime between 1958 and 1970.
‘Heavy import taxes’
The Sindh government imported the 39 buses at a cost of Rs3 billion.
“A big quantum of the import price was paid in Customs and other import taxes,” Bhutto said, estimating the taxes carried a bigger half of the import cost.
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She said the provincial government has already introduced an automated fare payment/collection system via its plastic card called ‘Breeze’ on three routes under Peoples Bus Service.
“This automated fare collection system is being integrated on Green and Orange line routes, meaning a traveller can make fare payment via one card on both the lines instead carrying two payment cards on the two different lines.
“In the future, the same payment system will get integrated on Red and Yellow lines as well,” she said.
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