Sindh government officials have announced the routes on which newly imported double-decker and electric vehicle (EV) buses will operate in Karachi starting January 2026.
According to the officials, five diesel-run double-decker buses will be introduced on the Shahrah-e-Faisal, operating from Model Colony to Tower and back.
The route has been selected due to its heavy passenger traffic, marking the return of double-decker buses to the city after nearly six to seven decades.
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Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) Managing Director Kanwal Nizam Bhutto said the double-decker buses will accommodate around 115 to 120 passengers and will be fully air-conditioned.
She added that the buses feature adjustable roofs that can be opened during pleasant weather and covered during hot or rainy conditions.
In addition to the double-deckers, 34 EV buses will be deployed on new routes across the city. These include the Gulshan-e-Maymar to Tower route, while the Peoples Bus Service will also be extended to upper Sindh cities, including Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, and Shikarpur.
READ: Double-decker buses arrive at port, set to roll out in Karachi soon
The Sindh government has imported a total of 39 buses from China – five double-deckers and 34 EV buses – at a cost of Rs3 billion.
The vehicles are currently undergoing clearance at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), with a substantial portion of the cost paid in customs duties and other import taxes.
Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon is expected to formally launch the new bus services in a ceremony planned for later this week or next, depending on the availability of senior provincial officials, according to Bhutto.
Officials said the current rollout marks the first phase, with plans under consideration to import more diesel-run double-decker buses or import EV double-decker buses in the upcoming phase, the director said.
It is worth noting here that the double decker busses were used to run in Karachi back in 1960’s and 1970’s.
According to a report, a senior citizen Naseem Ahmed recalled that the Gujrat Transport Company operated double-decker buses in Karachi between 1958 and 1970.
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‘Heavy import taxes’
The government is also expanding its automated fare payment system.
The “Breeze” card, already operational on three Peoples Bus Service routes, is being integrated across the Green and Orange Lines and will later be extended to the Red and Yellow Lines, enabling commuters to use a single card across multiple routes.
