Punjab’s Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has decided to start a new digital payment system for the Metro Bus and Orange Line train services.
At a meeting about transport, she learned the old token system for paying fares on the Orange Line train and Metro Buses will be ended. Instead, a barcode system and card payments will be introduced.
People will be able to pay fares using:
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- ATM cards
- Mobile payment apps
- Special tap-to-pay (NFC) cards
This new system will work in Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad.
One Card for All Travel
The Chief Minister approved a single “T-Cash” card for the entire province. This one card will let people ride any Metro Bus or Orange Line train. A different card will be made for students.
Other Transport Plans
- Electric Rickshaws: The meeting agreed to bring electric rickshaws to replace older motorcycle rickshaws. The Chief Minister asked for suggestions on this project.
- Jobs: Approval was given to hire technical staff for the transport department.
- Expo: Plans were approved to hold Punjab’s first international transport expo.
- Vehicle Stickers: A new type of electronic sticker (RFID) will be used for all vehicle-related matters.
- Electric Buses: The supply of electric buses for Punjab districts will start next month.
- Bus Shelters: The design for 50 new bus shelters in Lahore was reviewed, and their installation will start soon.
Briefing: The Transport Secretary also gave an update on the planned Yellow Line bus service between Lahore and Gujranwala. Punjab’s Chief Minister introducing digital payments for public transport. The key points include: replacing tokens with barcode/card systems, creating a universal “T-Cash” transit card, introducing electric rickshaws, planning an international transport expo, and starting electric bus services soon. The user seems to need simplified news content – possibly for educational purposes or to share with non-native English speakers. Since they specified “simple English,” I’ll avoid jargon like “NFC cards” and explain terms like “RFID stickers” in plain language. The 300-word limit means I’ll prioritize the most impactful developments: the digital payment overhaul and electric vehicle initiatives feel most significant. I notice the article ends abruptly with the Chief Minister’s justice day message – that seems unrelated to transport, so I’ll omit it to stay focused. For structure, I’ll group related decisions: first the digital payment changes, then the new transit card, followed by staffing and electric vehicle plans. The bus shelter detail is minor, so I’ll mention it briefly at the end. Word count is tight, so I’ll use contractions (“it’s” instead of “it is”) and simple sentences. Phrases like “will be abolished soon” become “will end soon” – every word counts! The photo caption about digital banks isn’t relevant here, so I’ll ignore it. Finally, I’ll add a headline that captures the main theme: “Punjab Plans Digital Fare System” keeps it clear and action-focused, just like my earlier flood rewrite (“Heavy Rain Floods Rawalpindi”).
