ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Capital Development Authority said Friday the federal capital’s electric bus network is fully operational across 21 routes after officials reported more than 102,000 passenger trips were logged in a single day. Officials said the expansion is aimed at widening access to affordable public transport and improving connections across the city, Jan. 2, 2026.
For residents, the shift means the Islamabad electric bus network has moved from a phased rollout to an all-routes operating plan — and authorities now have a clearer picture of how quickly demand can climb when coverage broadens.
Islamabad electric bus network expands to full 21-route coverage
The CDA said all 21 routes have been made “fully functional” under directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing the project as a push for quality and affordable travel. The authority said 102,000 people used the service Dec. 31, 2025, according to a CDA briefing following the review meeting.
Muhammad Ali Randhawa, the CDA chairman and Islamabad’s chief commissioner, chaired the meeting where officials also reviewed depots and charging stations needed to support daily operations. Construction of the electric bus depots — split across two sites — is about 97% complete, and one site is finished, according to a Business Recorder report.
The latest update was also reported by local media, including The Express Tribune, which noted officials’ claim that ridership continues to rise as routes come online.
How the Islamabad electric bus rollout built momentum over time
The full map caps a multiyear buildout. In 2022, the CDA said it was preparing to launch electric feeder buses to move riders toward the Green and Blue Line metro terminals, according to a Dawn report on the early plan.
When the first routes began operating in July 2024, officials outlined how an Islamabad electric bus could work as a feeder system — linking residential sectors to major corridors — while ramping up charging points and fleet readiness, according to Dawn’s coverage of the initial launch.
In March 2025, state-run media reported the CDA had launched 13 feeder routes and framed the shift as a cleaner transport project. Randhawa said the transition was “not just about reducing emissions,” but also about building public transport that is efficient and affordable, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan report.
What comes next for the Islamabad electric bus system
Officials have tied the 21-route milestone to infrastructure work that will shape how reliably service can be dispatched and charged. As depots and charging stations near completion, the Islamabad electric bus network is expected to face fewer operational bottlenecks — but the CDA has not released new details on service frequency, fleet size or fare policy with the latest announcement.
If weekday demand continues near the 100,000-plus level, the challenge will shift from launching routes to maintaining consistent service standards. For riders, the measure of success will be whether the Islamabad electric bus remains predictable at peak hours as more commuters treat it as an everyday alternative to private cars and smaller vans.
