2,000 CNG Buses to be Imported from Argentina soon

The Environment Protection Department, Punjab (EPD), in a bid to bring down the environmental pollution, especially emissions in the air, has started negotiations with an Argentinean company for providing CNG buses as well as other technologies in near future.

The EPD officials said the company GNC Galileo, Argentina, has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Environment. Under this project, 2000 CNG buses for public transport in 10 major cities of the country will be provided while CNG Bus Refueling Stations will also be established to provide the required basic on clean fuels such as CNG.

On Thursday, Sajjad Saleem Hotiana, Secretary EPD Punjab, held a meeting with Rodolfo Martin Saravia, Argentinean Ambassador, regarding the use and promotion of CNG in buses & other vehicles and establishment of Bus Refueling Stations in Punjab. Osvaldo Claudio Del Campo, CEO, GNC Galileo, Syed Ahmed Masood, Managing Director, ACE Energy and other senior officers of the Environment Protection Department, also attended the meeting.

Rodolfo Martin Saravia, Argentinean Ambassador, highlighted the commitment of the Government of Argentina to the Government of Pakistan’s major initiative towards environmental protection, especially air emissions control in the major cities of the Pakistan through promoting Mass Transit for the convenience of public transport operation.

The Secretary EPD, Punjab, informed the delegation that the Punjab Government was very much committed to the use of clean fuels in the transport sector and the Environment Department had always promoted the use of CNG in vehicles to improve the environment. He said induction of 2-stroke engine rickshaws had been banned in the Punjab w.e.f. 01.01.2005 and 4-stroke engine CNG rickshaws have been introduced. The Transport Department is planning to replace old diesel engine buses with the CNG engine and Euro-2 standard engine buses.