Islamabad: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has inaugurated a new electric bus depot and charging centre in Islamabad to promote eco-friendly public transport in the federal capital.

According to Radio Pakistan, during the inaugural ceremony, the Interior Minister highlighted that approximately 125,000 residents of Islamabad are currently utilizing the electric bus service daily. He mentioned an ambitious objective to increase this number to 250,000 passengers each day.

The Minister stressed the importance of accommodating both male and female students in the route planning. He also announced plans to extend the electric bus service to Rawat, further expanding the reach of this green initiative.

Emphasizing the impact on traffic management, the Minister noted that the electric bus service, in conjunction with the metro system, is significantly reducing traffic congestion in the twin cities. Additionally, he mentioned efforts to restore the Rawalpindi-Islamabad railway service.

The Minister revealed that Heavy Industries Taxila Pakistan is set to commence local manufacturing of electric buses soon, marking a significant step towards self-reliance in sustainable transport solutions.

Following the inauguration, the Interior Minister took a ride on an electric bus alongside relevant officials. They received a comprehensive briefing about the depot's capabilities and the charging infrastructure in place.

It was disclosed that the depot is equipped to install 64 chargers, with 50 already operational and the remaining 14 to be installed shortly. Each charger is designed to charge two buses within a span of two hours.

Currently, electric buses are running on 21 routes across Islamabad, and the system has been integrated with Google to enhance commuter convenience.