A massive increase in passengers has been witnessed on the Red Metro Bus and Green Electric Bus services operating between Rawalpindi and Islamabad following the Punjab government’s decision to provide free travel facilities.
According to media reports, daily ridership on both services has exceeded 170,000 passengers. The Rawalpindi Red Metro Bus service alone recorded more than 129,000 daily commuters, while the Green Electric Buses operating on various feeder routes carried over 40,000 passengers per day.
Under the initiative, free travel is being provided to citizens upon showing their national identity cards, while students are allowed free travel after presenting their student cards.
Despite weekend holidays on Saturday and Sunday, nearly 130,000 passengers travelled daily between the twin cities.
The Green Electric feeder buses also experienced overwhelming crowds, with more than 40,000 passengers using the service in a single day. According to officials, a combined total of over 170,000 citizens benefited from the Red Metro and Green Electric Bus services in one day.
It is pertinent to mention that after hike in petrol prices, Islamabad residents will get free transport across the federal capital for one month at the direction of PM Shehbaz Sharif.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi took to X, saying that “on the directions of the Prime Minister, all public transport in Islamabad will be made free of cost for the general public for the next 30 days.
The Ministry of Interior will bear the expenditure of Rs350 million for this public relief initiative. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Get fuel discounts on these cards after hike in petrol prices
On the other hand, consumers can reduce their fuel expenses by using various petrol discount cards and digital payment options offering cashback and rewards.
To benefit from petrol price discounts, motorists can use dedicated fuel loyalty cards such as GO Cards, which provide reward points, cashless transactions, and savings at over 150 fuel stations nationwide.
Several banks are also offering fuel discount card options, including the HBL FuelSaver Credit Card, which provides up to 5% cashback on fuel purchases, and Standard Chartered’s Xtra Mile account, designed specifically for petrol savings.
