Karachi witnessed the inauguration of double-decker buses on Wednesday, with Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announcing that the buses would be available to the public from January 1. Speaking at the launch, Memon, who also holds the transport portfolio, said, “Today marks the beginning of double-decker bus services in the city. They will be available to the public from tomorrow, and today, they will be tested on the city’s roads.”
The buses were inaugurated alongside Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, more than a year after the provincial government announced the initiative in October 2024 to ease mobility in the city of over 23 million residents.
The buses will initially operate on routes from Malir to Sharea Faisal and between Zainab Market in Saddar and Model Colony, with plans to expand coverage. According to the Sindh government, this service marks the return of double-decker buses to Karachi after 65 years.
Memon emphasized that public transport is a necessity and said the government is providing these facilities at subsidized rates, noting that over 125,000 commuters use transport services under the People’s Bus Service project daily.
Addressing road conditions, he added that more than Rs9 billion had been allocated for industrial area roads, with additional projects like the Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway underway. Highlighting the broader vision, Memon stated that double-decker buses would eventually cover tourist spots and major roads to present a positive image of Sindh.
A handout from the Sindh Chief Minister’s office described the buses as “a gift” from CM Murad Ali Shah, quoting him: “Better transport facilities for Karachi are no longer just a promise—they are becoming a reality. Today, a bus has started running, and tomorrow, the city will transform.”
