At the beginning of this year Karachi Started for electricity Powered by The buses The service of (electric buses) has provided the convenience of travel to the residents of Shahr Quaid.
In a conversation with Independent Urdu, citizen Imran Ali praised the efforts of the Sindh government and said that the bus travel It is comfortable while the rent is also reasonable. “Earlier it used to take me 70 rupees to reach my destination but now only 50 rupees.”
Despite the comfort and cheap travel of the citizens, the question arises whether these modern electric buses will be successful in the city of Karachi?
In this regard, energy expert Abu Bakr Ismail told Independent Urdu: ‘Bad governance was the reason for the failure of all the buses introduced in Karachi in the past.’
He said that the Mass Transit Department of Sindh, which has been functioning under many names, has never been active in solving transport problems, while the projects introduced by the government have not proved sustainable and Then the government ends the subsidy after a certain period and thus these projects also stop and then a new project comes.
Abu Bakr Ismail said that the government initiates the project but does not arrange for its maintenance. “We don’t have technicians for the maintenance of this technology here.
‘Electric transport abroad is successful because they make their own electric buses. If electric buses start being made in Pakistan too and the same repair work is done, then the bus project can be successful.
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Environmental pollution
Environment expert Rafiul Haq said in a conversation with Independent Urdu that introducing electric and hybrid buses in Karachi is insufficient to remove environmental pollution.
‘This is a cosmetic project. The city needs 500 buses, the number of buses currently on the roads cannot eliminate the air pollution in the environment. There are too many smoking buses.’
While Deputy Director Mass Transit Bashir Hussain assured in a conversation with Independent Urdu that electric buses will lead to the elimination of environmental pollution.
“Currently, 30 buses are on the roads while the Chief Minister of Sindh has given a grant of 50 crore rupees for the infrastructure of Karachi.”
He further said that ‘It was already decided regarding EV operation that alternative energy will be used for it. ‘That means we will use solar energy. At present, work is being done with generators, but alternative energy is also being worked on.’
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#electric #buses #Karachi #provide #ecofriendly #travel
**Interview Transcript: The Future of Electric Buses in Karachi**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Abu Bakr Ismail. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent announcement by the Sindh government about introducing solar-powered electric buses in Karachi.
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
**Interviewer:** As we know, the Sindh government plans to deploy 180 electric buses on the feeder routes of the Bus Rapid Transit system. What is your initial reaction to this initiative?
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** I appreciate the initiative, as it’s a step towards modernizing Karachi’s transportation. However, I remain cautious about its potential success due to historical issues we’ve faced in the past with public transport projects.
**Interviewer:** That’s an important point. You mentioned in your recent remarks that previous bus projects in Karachi have struggled. Can you elaborate on what you believe were the key reasons for this?
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** Certainly. One of the primary reasons for the failure of previous bus projects has been bad governance. The Mass Transit Department has not been proactive in addressing the underlying transportation issues, leading to unsustainable projects. After a while, the government typically pulls the subsidies, and these services just stop.
**Interviewer:** So, maintenance seems to be a crucial factor. What do you suggest for ensuring that this new fleet of electric buses remains operational?
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** Exactly. Maintenance is critical, and unfortunately, we lack skilled technicians for this technology in Pakistan. If the government invested in training local technicians and perhaps encouraged domestic manufacturing of electric buses, the project would have a much better chance of succeeding.
**Interviewer:** Given that electric transport has seen success in other countries, what lessons do you think Karachi can learn from them?
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** Other nations have built their electric bus systems through local production and comprehensive support systems. They don’t just introduce a service; they ensure that everything from manufacturing to maintenance is managed effectively. If we want similar success in Karachi, we need to adopt a holistic approach.
**Interviewer:** Some citizens, like Imran Ali, have expressed satisfaction with the current electric buses regarding comfort and affordability. Do you think public perception can influence the success of the new electric buses?
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** Absolutely. Public perception is critical. If residents feel satisfied and see tangible benefits from these buses, it can create positive momentum. However, if issues arise—like inconsistent service or lack of maintenance—it can quickly erode trust.
**Interviewer:** In closing, what would your key recommendation be to the Sindh government regarding this solar-powered bus initiative?
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** I would advise them to focus not just on launching these buses but ensuring a sustainable operational framework that includes maintenance, local technician training, and a long-term commitment to this project. Only then can we hope for it to be a success.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Abu Bakr, for sharing your insights. It will be interesting to see how this project unfolds in Karachi.
**Abu Bakr Ismail:** Thank you for having me. I hope for the best for Karachi’s public transport system!
