Sharjeel Memon disputes Maryam Nawaz’s electric bus claim, sets record straight

Sharjeel Memon, Senior Minister for Information and Transport in Sindh, has corrected a claim made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz regarding the introduction of electric buses in Pakistan. Maryam had tweeted earlier on Friday that Punjab would be the first province in the country to transform its mass transit system with electric vehicles, announcing the arrival of the first fleet of 27 e-buses. These buses, she highlighted, are equipped with Wi-Fi, a female section, wheelchair ramps, CCTV, and seating for special persons, while bus stops will feature water coolers and mist fans. Responding to this tweet, Memon took to social media to clarify the record as he pointed out that while Punjab is now introducing electric buses, Sindh had already taken the lead. “It’s good to know that after Sindh, Punjab is the second province to start EV buses. The PPP-led Sindh government launched electric buses in January 2023,” Memon wrote, adding that Punjab had started its initiative after Sindh. In response, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari swiftly came to respond to her counterpart. She took a sarcastic tone, referencing previous criticism of the Sindh government’s handling of public transport. "First, business owners were summoned and reprimanded over a light-hearted comment, and now this?" she remarked. "After the introduction of the Orange Line, three metro lines, Speedo buses, and electric bikes, this is the next logical step." Bukhari also emphasised that the true state of public transport in Sindh is far more complicated, urging a deeper understanding of the issue.

from Punjab News Updates and Insights - The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/sfrwjkK