Safe & affordable transport facility a top priority of punjab govt: Provincial Minister

ATTOCK, Mar 17 (APP):Punjab Minister for Transport and Mass Transit Bilal Akbar Khan on Monday said that providing safe, affordable, and high-quality transport facilities remained a top priority of the provincial government and the planned launch of an electric bus service in Attock is a reflection of this commitment.

Chairing a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, the minister announced that the service would be formally launched in April, providing residents with modern, environmentally friendly commuting options.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Anil Saeed, Assistant Commissioner Arif Qureshi, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Sardar Zaheer Ahmed Khan, former provincial minister Jahangir Khanzada, former MPA Iftikhar Ahmed Khan, Malik Hameed Akbar Khan, former municipal chairman Sheikh Nasir Mehmood, Chief Officer Municipality Sardar Aftab Ahmed Khan and other officials.

During a briefing, the RTA secretary said a special squad had been constituted to curb overcharging and other violations during Eidul Fitr.

He added that fines exceeding Rs14 million had already been imposed on commercial vehicles for breaches of transport regulations.

Officials told the meeting that proposals were under consideration to upgrade bus stands in Attock and Fateh Jang, while a summary had been sent to the Punjab government seeking approval to relocate the main bus stand outside the city.
Mr Khan said that in the initial phase, electric buses would operate on routes connecting Attock with Haji Shah, Attock Khurd and Hazro, with services to be expanded to other tehsils at a later stage.

Later, the minister visited the General Bus Stand, where he interacted with passengers, listened to their complaints and reviewed fare lists. He also inspected the control room and complaint cell, directing officials to ensure prompt redressal of public grievances.

Talking to reporters, Mr Khan said the service would initially be launched with 15 green buses operating on routes linking Attock with Haji Shah, Fateh Jang, Hassan Abdal and Hazro. He said the buses would run on a hybrid system and cover up to 300 kilometres daily.

He said the charging infrastructure would combine grid electricity and solar power, adding that a special tariff had reduced electricity costs for electric vehicles to around Rs35 per unit compared to the usual Rs60–70 per unit.

The minister said 500 electric buses had already been distributed across 20 districts in Punjab in the first phase, while additional buses were expected to arrive soon. He added that Attock would receive 20 to 25 more buses in the next phase.

Warning transporters against overcharging passengers during Eid, he said strict action would be taken against violators.

Citizens were advised to register complaints through helpline 1071 or the chief minister’s online portal.

Mr Khan also highlighted measures to improve vehicle fitness standards, noting that mobile checking units would be deployed for 15 days in various tehsils to inspect heavy traffic.

Later, he visited the CM Punjab First Women Bazaar in Attock, where officials briefed him on the reconstruction of a 120-year-old colonial-era building, now housing 36 shops, along with a tea house and a treehouse for children.

The minister appreciated the district administration’s performance, describing its public welfare initiatives as commendable.