APROPOS the report `Minister makes yet another promise of new buses` (Oct18).

The Sindh Transport Minister, Mr Nasir Shah, has once again promised to ply 600 new buses in the metropolis in the next three months. Earlier in April he had announced, on the floor of the Sindh Assembly while responding to a question, that over 637 diesel buses would be launched in the city in the next few months.

I am curious to know why the government is opting for about to become obsolete carbon-emitting technology when the world is focusing on advanced and eco-f riendly options.

The US, UK, other European countries and even China and India are working toward switching their public passenger vehicles run on batteries powered by electricity and solar energy. Top manufacturers like Ford, Volvo, Volkswagen, GM, Renault-Nissan and Tata have introduced hybrid vehicles and will probably phase out petrol and diesel engines in 20 years.

China is already working on a study to ban the sale of gasoline and diesel-powered cars within a decade. India, the world`s fif th largest automobile market, has set a 2030 deadline for electric vehicles.

Karachi with a population of 20 million is a megapolis. Its public transport system is pathetic to say the least. The few buses, mini-buses and coaches that are on the roads cannot meet the city`s needs.

Good public transport is used by all citizens; a case in point is London`s transport system which is used by captains of the economy and even parliamentarians.

Therefore, there is a dire need for a better and af fordable public transport system in our city.

The government should allow only electric buses as these vehicles have zero noise and pollution. Electric buses will also save the exchequer and valuable foreign exchange spent on oil import.

Maaz Abbasi Karachi