Islamabad’s electric bus service is adding new routes up to Rawat, with a new depot, fast chargers and plans to double daily ridership to 250,000 commuters.
New Electric Bus Depot and Charging Centre Inaugurated
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has inaugurated Islamabad’s dedicated electric bus depot and charging centre, marking another milestone in the capital’s shift towards cleaner public transport. During the ceremony, the minister took a ride on an electric bus along with senior officials and received a detailed briefing on how the depot and charging systems operate.
Naqvi congratulated the project team on completing the facility and highlighted that the new depot will serve as the operational backbone for the city’s growing electric bus network. The site has been designed to handle charging, parking, inspection and basic maintenance under one roof, helping to keep the fleet on the road with minimal downtime.
Extension of Routes and Focus on Student Commuters
At the event, the interior minister announced that Islamabad’s electric bus service will now be extended to Rawat, improving connectivity for commuters travelling from the outskirts towards the city. The expansion is intended to give residents along this corridor a reliable and affordable alternative to private vehicles and overcrowded vans.
Naqvi said that around 125,000 commuters are currently using the electric buses every day in Islamabad. The government’s target is to increase daily ridership to about 250,000 passengers as more routes and buses are added. He emphasised that route planning has been carried out with special attention to the needs of male and female students, many of whom rely on public transport to reach schools, colleges and universities.
By improving coverage and frequency on student-heavy routes, authorities hope to reduce travel time, cut costs for families and make daily commuting safer and more predictable.
Reducing Traffic Pressure and Promoting Cleaner Mobility
Naqvi noted that the electric bus service, when combined with the existing metro system, is already helping to ease traffic pressure in Islamabad. As more people shift from private cars, taxis and motorbikes to mass transit, the number of vehicles on key roads can be reduced, especially during rush hours.
Electric buses also support environmental goals. They do not produce tailpipe emissions, and when powered by a cleaner energy mix, they can significantly cut the transport sector’s contribution to urban air pollution. The minister also announced that the Rawalpindi–Islamabad railway service is being restored, adding another public transport option linking the twin cities.
Together, the metro, electric buses and rail service are meant to form an integrated network that makes it easier for citizens to move around without relying on personal vehicles for every trip.
Local Manufacturing of Electric Buses by Heavy Industries Taxila
In a key development for local industry, the interior minister revealed that Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) will begin manufacturing electric buses in Pakistan. Local production is expected to reduce dependence on imports, shorten delivery times and potentially lower costs over the medium term.
Domestic manufacturing can also create jobs for engineers, technicians and factory workers, while building technical expertise in electric vehicle technology. Over time, this could open the door for exports to other markets in the region if the buses meet international standards.
For the public, locally made buses should make it easier to expand fleets in more cities, bringing modern, air-conditioned and accessible transport to a larger share of the population.
Charging Capacity, Routes and Digital Integration
Officials briefed the minister that the new depot has space for 64 fast chargers, with 50 already installed and another 14 to be added soon. Each charger is capable of charging two buses in about two hours, allowing vehicles to rotate between routes and charging bays throughout the day.
At present, electric buses are operating on 21 routes within Islamabad, connecting residential areas, commercial centres and educational institutions. The project has been integrated with Google, which means that commuters can check routes and timings through digital maps and navigation apps.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Chief Commissioner Islamabad, IG Islamabad Police, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad and other senior officials, underscoring the importance the government is placing on modernising public transport in the capital.
As the service expands towards Rawat and beyond, authorities are betting that a combination of reliable operations, digital information and comfortable buses will encourage more people to leave their cars at home and choose public transport instead.
