Who is Abdullah Qaisar? Pakistani Young Developer Builds Metrobus Routes App, Free for Everyone

A Reddit post on the r/islamabad community has gained wide attention after a young developer from Islamabad, Muhammad Abdullah Qaisar, revealed: “Government is spending millions on an app I built and launched for free.”

Qaisar, a software engineer, created the Safar app, a metro and feeder bus route planner that has quickly become a lifesaver for commuters in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. What started as frustration over missing bus schedules has now evolved into a fully functional, free public service platform — something the government has yet to deliver.

Earlier this year, when CDA launched electric feeder buses, Qaisar noticed that the route passing his house had no available maps or timings. Online searches only led him to outdated Facebook posts and groups where people relied on word-of-mouth updates. Frustrated, he decided to build a solution himself.

Launched in March, Safar offers features such as:

• Real-time station locator
• Interactive route maps for Red, Blue, Orange, Green, and feeder lines
• Fare calculator
• Complete schedules and stop details
• Zero data collection for user privacy

The project also received support from Faizan Khattak, a cartographer whose independent mapping work made the app more user-friendly. Khattak said on LinkedIn: “When I learned that Abdullah Qaisar was working to make this a reality, I was incredibly excited to join the effort. I’m honored to contribute to what is now the city’s first-ever route planner.”

With more than 15,000 users and 25,000+ routes identified, Safar has already become an essential commuting tool. Qaisar now plans to expand to other major cities like Lahore and Karachi, either through official collaboration with transport authorities or continued independent mapping.

For now, Safar remains a citizen-led initiative — proof that innovation and civic responsibility can sometimes outpace government projects.