ISLAMABAD: On the special directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, all 21 routes of Islamabad’s electric bus service have now become fully operational, marking a major milestone in the capital’s public transport system. The project aims to provide citizens with affordable, modern and environmentally friendly travel facilities while easing traffic congestion across the city.

The electric bus service has received an exceptional public response since its expansion. According to official figures, as many as 102,000 passengers used the service in a single day, reflecting growing public trust and reliance on the system. Authorities noted that daily ridership continues to rise steadily as more commuters shift from private vehicles to public transport.

These developments were shared during a high level meeting chaired by Capital Development Authority Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa to review progress on ongoing and proposed development projects in Islamabad. The meeting focused on evaluating timelines, quality standards and overall impact of key infrastructure initiatives in the federal capital.

Senior officials including Member Administration Talat Mahmood, Member Engineering Nifasat Raza, Member Planning Dr Khalid Hafeez, the Director General Procurement and Contract, along with other senior officers and project directors, attended the meeting. A comprehensive review of development projects underway across different sectors of the city was conducted.

The meeting was informed that construction of the electric bus depot, consisting of two sites, is nearing completion, with nearly 97 percent of the work finalized. Officials confirmed that construction work at Site A of the depot has been fully completed, ensuring smooth operational support for the expanding electric bus fleet.
In addition, progress on the Margalla Avenue to M 1 Motorway link project was reviewed in detail. Discussions were also held on the Convention Expo and Exhibition Centre and the proposed luxury hotel project, highlighting the government’s broader vision to strengthen Islamabad’s infrastructure, tourism potential and economic growth.