The highly awaited induction of 80 electric buses on 10 routes in Rawalpindi has been delayed amid law and order situation created by the recent protests.

The provincial government had planned to inaugurate the eco-friendly public transport facility on October 15, with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurating the project in person at Liaquat Bagh. However, district administration officials confirm the event has been postponed and a new date will be released in a week after getting clearance from the Chief Minister s Office.

A government official said that although the event was initially scheduled to take place on October 15, the delay became unavoidable because of the chief minister s other official commitments and the prevailing security issues throughout the province.

In the meantime, civic authorities had been undertaking extensive preparations prior to the inauguration. Throughout the last week, different civic agencies conducted significant improvement work on major roads and public places, such as Murree Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Rawal Road, and Old Airport Road. The activities involved resurfacing of roads, greenbelt beautification, and footpath repairs to facilitate hassle-free operations for the soon-to-be-launched electric bus service.

Also Read: Lahore set to go electric: E-Bus routes proposed for Kasur, Nankana & Sheikhupura

The new electric buses are part of Punjab s larger effort to launch environmentally friendly and modern transportation solutions in metropolitan cities. On completion, the service is likely to offer citizens a greener, more efficient, and cheaper mode of transportation, while cutting down on air pollution and traffic jams in the twin cities.