The Sindh government has extended its double-decker bus service from Malir to Tower, with the new route becoming operational on Monday, February 16, 2026. The announcement was made by the provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, on X.
The move is part of ongoing efforts to improve public transport in Karachi, the country’s largest city and economic hub. The service had initially been launched in December 2025, covering the Malir to Sharea Faisal route. The new extension is expected to make commuting easier for residents in more parts of the city.
“The double-decker bus service will initially run on a 22-kilometre route, with fares ranging from Rs80 to Rs120,” Memon said, highlighting plans to expand the service further in the future. He added that discussions with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had focused on adding more double-decker buses to meet growing demand.
The service includes five diesel-run double-decker buses and 34 electric vehicles, all imported from China at a cost of Rs3 billion. The vehicles were cleared at Karachi Port Trust before being phased into service. After nearly six or seven decades, double-decker buses have returned to Karachi’s streets, offering residents a new commuting option.
Public transport in Karachi continues to see high demand. According to the minister, about 125,000 people use the People’s Bus Service daily, while the Green Line Bus Service carries 65,000 passengers each day. The government has also linked the Green Line and Orange Line BRT projects, allowing commuters to use both services with a single card.
Despite these improvements, the city faces persistent infrastructure challenges. Many roads in districts such as East, West, South, Central, Keamari, Malir and Korangi remain damaged, littered with potholes, waterlogging and sewage issues. Gas pipeline excavations by Sui Southern Gas Company have further worsened conditions. Residents say previous repair efforts were temporary and that long-term improvements have yet to materialise.
Karachi’s administration is divided among 23 authorities, including the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, cantonment boards, Karachi Port Trust and railways. The KMC controls only 32 percent of the city’s land, complicating coordinated repair and development work.
While the Sindh government has announced infrastructure packages worth billions, residents continue to face difficulties. In this context, the extended double-decker bus service provides a small but visible step towards improving daily life and easing the challenges of commuting in a city struggling with ageing infrastructure and heavy traffic.
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