Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved a five-year transport plan aimed at modernising the province’s public transit system.

In a statement issued from Lahore, Maryam said the project would introduce an Automated Rapid Transport (ART) system, designed to occupy minimal road space while accommodating over 300 passengers per bus. The ART buses will feature three coaches, offering a fully solar-powered solution.

“This will be a completely solarised system,” she said, adding that the smart stations will enable buses to be charged within minutes. Passengers will have access to fast charging, WiFi, monitoring cameras, and other facilities.

The project will be implemented in three phases, with the first phase launching in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala. The system will later expand to ten cities per phase, reaching a total of 30 cities over time. “We aim to complete the project within four years,” Maryam stated.