KP Launches Women’s Pink Bus Service With Fare Relief

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi inaugurated several public transport and infrastructure projects in Peshawar, including the Pink Bus Service for women, new hybrid buses, the solarisation project at Chamkani Depot and the Mall of Hayatabad Depot. The launch places women’s mobility and public transport access at the centre of the provincial government’s latest development push.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Afridi said the introduction of women-focused buses fulfilled a commitment he had made to bring the service onto the roads. He said the project was intended to support safer and more accessible travel for women across the province, particularly in urban areas where public transport remains a daily challenge for students, workers and families.

The chief minister announced a 25 percent fare reduction for women using the Pink Bus Service. The concession is expected to make the service more affordable for regular commuters and may help increase women’s participation in education, employment and civic life by lowering the cost of daily travel.

Afridi also praised women working as bus drivers, describing them as examples for others in the province. His remarks framed the transport project as more than a mobility initiative, presenting it as a step toward public visibility and professional participation for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

During the ceremony, the chief minister pushed back against negative portrayals of the province. He said those who associate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with extremism should look at steps being taken to support women. He argued that respect for women, elders, children and national loyalty are central to Pashtun society.

The event also carried a political message. Afridi announced that his party would proceed with a march toward Islamabad on October 4, saying the planned mobilisation would not be withdrawn. His comments linked the public transport launch with the province’s wider political confrontation with the federal government.

Afridi criticised national financial management and government spending, saying Pakistan was carrying a debt burden of Rs99 trillion. He said public representatives who come to power through a mandate should prioritise public service rather than spending on luxury facilities or personal comfort.

He also criticised expenditure on a three-day conference, claiming that Rs6 billion of public money was being spent on it. The launch therefore combined governance, women’s transport access, fiscal criticism and political mobilisation in a single public appearance, making it one of the most closely watched provincial developments of the day.