BRT project 'state of the art service delivering like no other in Pakistan': Jhagra

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance and Health Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra on Thursday showed satisfaction over the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, referring to it as a "vibrant, state of the art service delivering like no other in Pakistan".

The minister shared a detailed thread on Twitter, adding that he decided to undertake a visit and try out the bus service "to see what's working and give feedback".

He travelled in a bus en route to Hayatabad at 2130 hours for a meeting with his constituency team, at the Tehkal stop.

“I thought it'd be useful to test out the BRT service spur of the moment. Glad that I did because it enabled me to see what's working and give feedback,” the minister wrote on Twitter.

Lauding the helpful staff at the stations and the facilities provided at the bus station, Jhagra also praised the discipline exhibited by the people on board, stating that the bus was crowded and almost full with passengers.

“Just getting feedback from those aboard, most of those using the service were using it as a utility and not just out of curiosity; which means the service is working. Let's all own this!” the minister exclaimed.

Referring to the facilities provided to women on board, the minister was happy to see the women's section at the front both occupied and their privacy being respected.

“The biggest piece of feedback was the need for more buses; Insha’Allah we will be doubling the number of buses we have as soon as we can," he said.

Read more: PM Imran inaugurates Peshawar BRT

Sharing that the staff was courteous and was only permitting people through station gates with masks, Jhagra lamented that unfortunately mask wearing within buses was still low – something to collectively work on.

“Hygiene was good, but keep stations and buses as clean as they ought to be will be our biggest challenge,” he added.

The minister urged the people to own the project and consider it an asset for Pakistan.

“Now, let us all own this as an asset for Peshawar and make it run as well as possible,” the minister asserted.

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan had inaugurated the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which is the flagship project of the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to make daily commute easier for the locals.

KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, along with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, were present at the launch of the project, where the premier had also delivered a speech.

While inaugurating the project, PM Imran said while he had reservations about it earlier, former chief minister KP Pervaiz Khattak ultimately allayed his concerns.

"A good transport system benefits everyone," said the prime minister, hoping that the system will reduce commute cost for daily travellers.

"Our aim is to make the lives of common people easier. The cost of Rs10 to 50 is enough and doable by daily wagers. If a daily wager cannot find a job here he can go to another place," said PM Imran.