Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is home to a large population undergoing rapid urbanization. With this growth, the need for an improved and efficient public transport system became evident, which could also alleviate the burden of traffic on the roads. Research has shown that a high-quality mass urban transport service contributes to social inclusion, provides better employment opportunities, and contributes to urban regeneration by enhancing people’s mobility.

To address these needs, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa collaborated with the Asian Development Bank to initiate Zu Peshawar, the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. This project has revamped the city’s existing transport system, replacing old, outdated, and unsafe modes of transport with a state-of-the-art BRT System. The project has not only played a role in the development of the city’s physical infrastructure but has also proven to be a a catalyst for urban regeneration and economic growth. The BRT system is designed to enhance capacity and reliability compared to a conventional bus system, which would be insufficient to handle the current load.

Zu Peshawar was inaugurated on August 13, 2020, and since then, the system has facilitated over 600 million journeys as of June 2023. With the introduction of new routes over time, the ridership is steadily increasing. The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plans to add more routes to extend this state-of-the-art transportation service to cover the entire city of Peshawar. The quality of services provided by TransPeshawar, the organization responsible for operating the BRT system, has been lauded in various national and international forums.

As the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TransPeshawar, I firmly believe that this transformative public transport project has not only changed the face of Peshawar but also shaped its future. I am confident that this will be a valuable asset serving future generations, reflecting Peshawar as a modern 21st-century city.

Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah
Chairman
Board of Directors, TransPeshawar