CDA Pink Electric Buses for Women in Islamabad

CDA pink electric buses are coming to Islamabad, as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans an exclusive electric bus service for women in the federal capital, with 30 new pink buses.

If all goes as planned, the civic agency will introduce the service with 30 buses, on the direction of the federal government and the Interior Ministry.

Sources said the CDA was working to acquire the 30 buses and finalise other formalities to launch the pink buses. The agency will engage Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) for importing the buses, likely from China.

CDA pink electric buses answer peak-hour crowding

The decision follows a problem women face every day on the existing service. The CDA, through its contractor, already runs an electric bus service on more than 20 routes in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with a fleet of more than 160 buses. But sources said women and girls found it difficult to get space in these buses during peak hours.

The exclusive service is the answer. A senior CDA officer confirmed the plan and said the agency had directed its concerned wing to make arrangements for the new service.

The officer said the response of citizens to the existing bus service was overwhelming and highly encouraging. The pink buses will run on the same routes where the existing bus service operates, so women will be able to use the same network with a service reserved for them.

How the service will work

The 30 pink buses will be electric, like the rest of the CDA fleet. The agency will import them through Heavy Industries Taxila, which has long handled defence and heavy engineering work for the state, and is now involved in the CDA’s bus procurement.

No fare has been announced yet. The senior officer said the pink service could be introduced within three months. The CDA is still working to acquire the buses and complete the formalities, so the launch date will depend on how fast the import and registration move.

The plan builds on a network that is already in place. The CDA has been expanding its footprint across the capital, from housing sectors to waste collection, and its work in the Margalla foothills has drawn legal challenges. The bus service is the part of that work most residents see every day.

Women-only transport is not new to Pakistan. Sindh runs a pink bus service for women in Karachi, launched in February 2023. Islamabad’s version will be the first in the federal capital.

Double-decker buses also on the way

The pink buses are not the only addition to the capital’s fleet. A few months ago the CDA decided to start a double-decker bus service in Islamabad for promotion of tourism, with the buses running a 25km city tour from F-9 Park, covering Faisal Mosque, Lok Virsa and Shakarparian.

The CDA had approached HIT for a feasibility study and an estimate for procuring the buses. Initially, the agency plans to start the double-decker service with four buses for the city tour.

After the announcement, the CDA got approval from its board, and the Development Working Party also approved the PC-I for the double-decker service. The senior officer said the double-decker service would start soon, as work was at an advanced stage, and the pink bus service would also be launched soon.

What happens next

The CDA must first complete the purchase of the 30 buses and the formalities that go with it. The import through HIT, likely from China, will set the pace.

Once the buses arrive, they will join the existing routes, giving women in the twin cities a service of their own at the hours when the buses are fullest. The capital’s local government elections are also approaching, with more than 3,505 candidates filing papers, and better public transport is likely to feature in that campaign.

For now, the plan is a promise rather than a timetable. But the CDA has confirmed it, the orders have been given, and the buses are being acquired.

Frequently asked questions

How many pink buses will CDA run for women in Islamabad?

The CDA plans to introduce the service with 30 new pink electric buses, acquired on the direction of the federal government and the Interior Ministry.

Which routes will the pink buses run on?

The buses will run on the same routes where the existing CDA electric bus service operates, covering more than 20 routes in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Why is CDA launching a women-only bus service?

Sources said women and girls found it difficult to get space in the existing buses during peak hours, so the CDA decided to introduce an exclusive service with 30 pink buses for women.

Who will supply the pink buses?

The CDA will engage Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) for importing the buses, likely from China.

Is CDA planning any other new bus service?

Yes. The CDA also plans a double-decker bus service in Islamabad, starting with four buses for a 25km city tour from F-9 Park, covering Faisal Mosque, Lok Virsa and Shakarparian, after board approval and the Development Working Party’s approval of the PC-I.