By Faizan Khan
LAHORE: Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has approved what officials are calling the province’s first “revolutionary phase” of district-level public transport, unveiling plans to build more than a thousand modern bus shelters across the region.
Chairing a high-level meeting in Lahore, Maryam set a firm deadline for the construction of 1,362 “modern, sustainable and aesthetically designed” bus shelters in 19 districts. The shelters, she said, would provide passengers — particularly elderly citizens, women and daily commuters — a dignified and comfortable space to wait, instead of standing in the scorching heat or harsh winter cold.
Authorities said the shelters had already been designed and would be completed within 45 to 60 days. Maryam directed departments to ensure all units were finished within the assigned timeframe, warning that delays would not be tolerated.
Work has already begun on 588 shelters across Punjab, while tenders for another 774 have been issued. Officials said the initiative was intended not only to improve travel conditions but also to enhance the visual landscape of cities.
“This is the first time Punjab’s districts are seeing a transformation of public transport at this scale,” Maryam said, adding that the new shelters would offer comfort while adding to the beauty of urban areas. The project is being framed as a key part of the chief minister’s broader plan to modernize public facilities and upgrade basic urban services across the province.
