Transportation in Pakistan is wide and diverse, with a population of over 220 million. With this growing population, it is very important to provide comfortable transportation to the people so that they can make their daily journey very easily. Pakistan’s buses are a vital part of the country’s transportation infrastructure. Metro bus services have been introduced in Lahore, Islamabad and Multan to provide fast, efficient and affordable public transportation for residents and visitors. The buses are air-conditioned with comfortable seating, making them a popular choice for commuters within the cities.
Metro Bus Services in Punjab, Pakistan
There are three metro bus services in Punjab, Pakistan which are listed below:
Lahore Metro Bus Systems
Rawalpindi Metro Bus Systems
Multan Metro Bus Systems
Lahore Metro Bus Systems:
In order to reduce the ever-growing traffic problems in Lahore, Punjab Mass Transit Authority (PMA) has established Bus Rapid Transit System called Metro Bus System line 1 from Gajjumata all the way up Shahdara. This BRTS is actually operated by PMA which makes it one of their first systems operating successfully throughout, Punjab Pakistan. Lahore Metro Bus system is one of the first metro bus services in Punjab, Pakistan, which was started in 2013.
Operational:
Since February, 2013
Route Length:
27 Km (Gajju Matta to Shahdara)
Headway:
2.25 Minutes to 3 Minutes
Operation Hours:
6:15 am – 10:00 pm
Number of Buses:
64
Number of Stations:
27
Tickets can be purchased at the bus stop or on the bus itself. Fares start at just Rs 30 (approximately $0.20) for a single journey.
Lahore Metro Bus Stations List:
There are 29 stations of the bus from Shahdara to Gajjumata are given below.
Shahdara Terminal
Niazi Chowk
Timber Market
Azadi Chowk
Bhatti Chowk
Zila Katchery
Civil Secretariat
MAO College Orange Line (Lahore Metro)
Janazgah
Qartaba Chowk
Shama
Icrha
Canal
Qaddafi Stadium
Kalma Chowk
Model Town
Naseerabad
Ittefaq Hospital
Qainchi
Ghazi Chowk
Chungi Amar Sidhu
Kamahan
Atari Saroba
Nishtar
Youhanabad
Dulu Khurd
Gajjumata Terminal
Rawalpindi Metro Bus Systems:
The intense traffic and sprawling metropolitan cities in Pakistan such as Rawalpindi are some of the biggest problems that needed to be solved. To provide a safe, efficient way for people to commute between their homes or work places without having any hassle with cars on roads all around them; an urban transportation system known as Metro Bus Rapid Transit System (MBTS) run by PMA, which operates between Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The line was inaugurated on June 04, 2015.
Operational:
Since June, 2015
Route Length:
24 Km (Sadar to Pak Secretariat)
Headway:
2.25 Minutes to 3 Minutes
Operation Hours:
6:15 am – 10:00 pm
Number of Buses:
68
Number of Stations:
24
Islamabad Metro Bus Stations
Secretariat
Parade Ground
Shaheed-e-Millat Road
Seventh Avenue
Saudi Pak Tower
Centaurus
Kachehry Stop
Ibn-e-Sina Road
Chaman Road
Kashmir Highway
Faiz Ahmad Faiz Road
Khayaban e Johar
Pothar Road
IJP Road
Rawalpindi Metro Bus Stations
Faiz Abad
Shams Abad
Sixth Road
Rehman Abad
Hospital
Waris Khan
Committee Chowk
Liaqat Bagh
Marrir Chowk
Saddar
Flash Man Hotel Chowk
Multan Metro Bus Systems
The Multan Metro bus system is one of the metro bus services in Punjab, which is a new form of transportation that has been brought to the city. The 18-kilometer track will run from Bahauddin Zakria University all the way through Chowk Kumharan, with 21 stations in total, including 7 at grade and 14 elevated ones!
Operational:
Since January, 2017
Route Length:
18.5 Km (BZU to Qaddafi Chowk)
Headway:
3 Minutes to 5 Minutes
Operation Hours:
6:15 am – 10:00 pm
Number of Stations:
21
Number of Buses:
35
Multan Metro Bus Stations List
Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Terminal
Bahadarpur
Mehmood Kot
Northern Bypass
Shalimar
Sabzazar
Chungi 6
Gulgasht
Chungi 9
Qasim Fort
Bab-e-Dolat
Hafiz Jamal
Manzoorabad
Ahmedabad
BCG Chowk
Peoples Colony
Vehari Chowk
Multan General Bus Stand
Jinnah Bagh
Shah Rukn-e-Alam
Kumharanwala Chowk Terminal
To Sum Up:
Cities in Pakistan are expanding their metro bus systems, keeping in mind traffic congestion. These three metro bus services in Punjab, Pakistan discussed above have been successful in reducing traffic congestion and helping people commute easily within the cities. Other cities have also adopted this kind of transport systems such as Peshawar BRT and Karachi Green Line BRT.
