Some 8,000 CNG buses would be operated under a mega project and lands are being allotted for setting up fuel stations equipped with modern machinery that would mark best addition in Mass Transit System, said Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi.

He said this while talking to Ambassador of Argentine Rodolfo J. Martine-Saravia and Regional Director of Galileo, S.A Juan Ojanguren, who called on him to discuss issues related to project of setting up CNG filling stations in Pakistan.

The minister said that Pakistan is world number one consumer of CNG and the federal cabinet has given this responsibility to the Ministry of Environment for initiating the project of launching CNG buses in ten major cities in the country.

Afridi further said that consultation process is under way so that maximum benefits may be achieved from Argentina for the fuel stations. He said that framework of the project has been initiated and lands are being allotted for these stations, adding out of 8,000 buses, 4,000 would be earmarked for Karachi and 4,000 buses would be for the rest of the nine mega cities.

He said the transport system would be initiated in cities including Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Hyderabad, Gujranwala and Sukkur and the buses would be operated and maintained by private investors under the government’s defined regulatory framework duly assisted by the provincial governments in provision of routes, provision of depots, land infrastructure and CNG stations.

He hoped that through the project the people of Pakistan would be able to enjoy clean and cheap transportation facilities as it would help address the public transport problems besides improving environmental conditions.

During the meeting the Ambassador of Argentine said that his country is one of the best solution providers and the world leader in CNG sector that possesses modern technology and highly skilled expertise.

On this occasion, different possibilities and views were shared about the project. He acknowledged the efforts made by the government of Pakistan for initiating the project. He informed that in terms of latest technology 700,000 dollar would be required for installation of one CNG station. Furthermore, in this project 40 stations would be required for 8000 buses.