Karachi needs 15,000 buses, only 400 operating: World Bank

The World Bank has stated that a sprawling metropolis like Karachi requires at least 15,000 buses to meet its public transport needs. However, currently, only 400 government-run buses are operational in the city.

According to the World Bank’s 2019 report, Karachi’s public transportation system falls drastically short of its requirements.

The existing fleet includes 300 buses under the Peoples Bus Service, 80 under the Green Line project, and 20 operating on the Orange Line.

With a population now exceeding 20 million, the addition of new buses is not keeping pace with the city's growing needs, the report highlights. By 2017, the number of operational buses in Karachi had fallen from 12,000 to below 5,000 — a situation that remains largely unchanged today.

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As per the Peoples Bus Service, around 125,000 passengers travel daily on their routes, while the Green and Orange Line BRT systems jointly carry approximately 80,000 passengers each day.

Transport officials confirmed that 139 new buses, including five double-decker units, were scheduled to be added to the fleet in July, but the project has faced delays.

Meanwhile, the city is overwhelmed with nearly 300,000 rickshaws and 36,000 registered Qingqi motorcycles — though the Qingqi association claims the number is closer to 60,000.

Many buses still plying Karachi’s roads are in such poor condition that they are more suited for scrapyards than city streets.