he meeting, held on Thursday at CM House, was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, the Chief Secretary, and relevant secretaries.
Pink Electric Motorcycles for Women: The cabinet was informed that the Transport and Sindh Mass Transit Authority (T&MTD) plans to launch a program aimed at enhancing female mobility through sustainable transportation. This initiative will introduce approximately 1,000 electric motorcycles for women, which will be allocated through an open and transparent balloting process. The initiative requires Rs 300 million to be obtained outside the budget.
The cabinet noted that an increasing number of women worldwide are opting for electric motorcycles as their primary mode of transport for daily commuting. Key factors driving this demand include greater mobility, cost-effectiveness compared to cars or public transport, eco-friendliness, and minimal maintenance. These motorcycles significantly contribute to enhanced mobility and independence for women, promote economic empowerment, break gender stereotypes, and improve safety and security.
The cabinet decided that the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) would procure the EV motorcycles through competitive bidding from one or more manufacturers, contingent on price and maintenance factors. Distribution will occur via a transparent open balloting process in the presence of media, subject to the following qualification criteria:
- The applicant must be a permanent resident of Sindh.
- The applicant must be a student or a working female.
- The applicant must hold a valid two-wheeler driving license.
- The applicant cannot sell the electric motorcycle for a period of seven years.
Procurement of 50 Buses: The cabinet was informed that the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) plans to procure 50 public transport buses for Karachi, including 15 double-decker buses and 35 electric buses. The transport department intends to operate 15 double-decker buses on Shahrah-e-Faisal and approved the proposal, allocating Rs 3 billion for the project
K-IV Transmission Line: The cabinet was also informed of the need to construct a transmission line for the K-IV project by the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC). Additionally, a 132 kV grid station is required, necessitating funding of Rs 16.47 billion for its establishment. The Energy Department has agreed that the loan amount will be disbursed in tranches based on the actual progress of the project, which will be verified by the Energy Department.
The cabinet approved a 20% joint equity investment totaling Rs. 3,295 million by STDC and the Sindh Energy Holding Company Limited (SEHCL). The remaining 80%, amounting to Rs. 13,179 million, will be financed through debt or loans from the Sindh Finance Department. The repayment of the loan by STDC will begin from the Commercial Operations Date (COD). The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) will act as the 50 MW bulk-power consumer for the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO). A Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) will be signed between KWSC and STDC, and a 50 MW Renewable Energy Hybrid Independent Power Plant (IPP) will subsequently be established in the vicinity.
