Sindh government officials have announced the routes for newly imported double-decker and electric vehicle (EV) buses, set to begin operations in Karachi from January 2026.
Five diesel-run double-decker buses will be introduced on Shahrah-e-Faisal, running from Model Colony to Tower and back. This route was selected due to its high passenger traffic, marking the return of double-decker buses to the city after nearly six to seven decades.
Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) Managing Director Kanwal Nizam Bhutto said the buses can accommodate around 115 to 120 passengers and are fully air-conditioned. She added that the buses feature adjustable roofs, which can be opened during pleasant weather and closed during hot or rainy conditions.
In addition to the double-deckers, 34 EV buses will be deployed on new routes across the city, including the Gulshan-e-Maymar to Tower route. The Peoples Bus Service will also be extended to upper Sindh cities such as Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, and Shikarpur.
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 awaiting clearance at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), with a significant portion of the cost spent on customs duties and import taxes.
Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon is expected to formally inaugurate the new bus services in a ceremony later this week or next, depending on the availability of senior provincial officials, Bhutto said.
Officials noted that this rollout represents the first phase, with plans under consideration to import additional diesel-run double-decker buses or EV double-decker buses in the next phase.
