The Sindh Cabinet has ratified a 4-year plan to integrate more than 8000 electric buses (e-buses) into Karachi’s Peoples Bus Service to promote sustainable urban transport. The National Energy & Transport Corporation (NETC), a subsidiary of the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation under the Ministry of Defence Production, presented a detailed roadmap for the project in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday.
Three-Phase Implementation Plan
The cabinet was informed that the plan would be implemented in three phases. It’s claimed that in the first phase, 1,500 e-buses are expected to be included in the PBS fleet within the first year, with 50 already operational.
Moreover, another 1,500 buses are probably to be introduced in the second phase, while 4,000 to 6,000 buses will follow in the final phase.
The NETC is also set to establish critical infrastructure, including charging stations, depots, and bus stops. Additionally, the project includes the development of a one-gigawatt solar energy plant to support these buses, which is expected to be operational by the end of Phase 3.
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Under a rent-to-own model, approved earlier in May 2024, NETC will procure and supply the buses at a fixed cost per kilometer, ensuring efficient operations.
The cabinet highly emphasized transparency and oversight by appointing an independent expert to check all technical, financial, and legal aspects of the project.
The agreement between the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) and NETC was approved for 100 electric buses, along with budget allocations of Rs412.5 million for the last quarter of FY 2025 and Rs1.65 billion annually for eight years to cover operational costs.
Focus on Education
The meeting also addressed critical education reforms. The cabinet approved the recruitment of 195 teachers and the creation of 700 additional elementary school teacher (EST) posts. It was revealed that 646 candidates had passed a rigorous teaching license test conducted by Sukkur IBA earlier this year. To accommodate all qualified candidates, Chief Minister Shah directed the finance department to allocate the remaining 348 posts in the budget.
Fresh teaching license holders will undergo interviews conducted by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) for their appointments to vacant EST (BPS-16) positions.
The cabinet also approved amendments to the Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education Bill-2024 and the Sindh Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Ordinance 1972. These amendments aim to enhance governance by enabling the appointment of BPS-19/20 cadre officers as board chairpersons and adding members from civil society and educators to the boards.
Additional Key Decisions
The cabinet urged the federal government to initiate the Flood Protection Plan IV on a cost-sharing basis and directed the education department to develop a Transgender Education Policy. A tax exemption on Sindh Revenue Board fees for the K-IV water project procurement was also approved.
The meeting, which lasted over four hours, was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and other senior officials. These measures reflect the government’s commitment to fostering sustainable urban growth, enhancing education, and addressing key infrastructure challenges.