Islamabad plans full switch to electric buses

Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Tuesday deliberated the comprehensive plans to transition commercial cars to electric power.

In a meeting, Randhawa stressed the significance of this change, saying that the project is a critical first step toward establishing a more eco-friendly and effective public transit system in Islamabad.

It is anticipated that the city’s transportation infrastructure would be modernized and its carbon footprint will be significantly reduced with the switch from commercial to electric buses.

In order to facilitate the switch to electric cars, the chairman gave the task of looking into the possibility of offering soft loans to commercial transport operators. To promote a quicker transition to electric mobility, further incentives must be implemented.

He emphasized that in order to secure finance for the electric car program, it is imperative to seek collaboration from International Financial Institutions (IFIs). The program should be centered on the environmental impact and obtaining carbon credits.

The Ministry of Climate Change will also be involved in order to guarantee that the program is in line with the nation’s overarching climate objectives.

The necessity of updating the infrastructure for charging was brought up at the meeting, and this is essential to the initiative’s success.

It was also determined that CDA would begin addressing the issue of switching to electric buses with all Islamabad institutions and organizations, including colleges, universities, and schools.

In light of this, the chairman gave the go-ahead to draft new rules that would make it easier for gas pumps all throughout the city to install charging stations for electric vehicles.

Additionally, charging stations will be positioned next to the digital parking lots that CDA recently introduced.