A Kurdish student in Germany is bringing the experience of advanced countries to the Kurdistan Region. Through the development of a smart mobile application, he aims to eliminate the confusion many citizens face when using public buses. This initiative is set to modernize the public transportation systems of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, while encouraging people to rely less on private cars.
Mohammad Amir, a young Kurdish engineer currently pursuing a master’s degree in Berlin, Germany, has turned his vision into reality by developing a smart application called KurdPass to simplify public transportation across the Kurdistan Region.
Inspired by Europe’s advanced transport networks, Amir decided to introduce the same culture of efficient public transport to Kurdish cities. The application allows users to select their city and instantly view a detailed map displaying all available bus routes. Using the map, passengers can choose their departure and destination points, after which the app provides complete travel information, including which bus to take, the estimated journey time, and the number of stops along the route.
For example, if a journey takes 33 minutes, the application accurately shows the expected arrival time and the location of the bus, functioning in a similar way to Google Maps, but specifically designed for local bus services.
One of the project’s primary goals is to create a digital bridge between bus drivers and passengers. Many residents are unaware of the bus routes operating within their own neighborhoods. In Sulaymaniyah alone, for example, there are 39 bus routes, yet many citizens know little about them. KurdPass addresses this gap by bringing all bus routes together on a single interactive map.
The project has received a warm welcome from official institutions. Amir has presented his idea to the governors of both Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, who have expressed their support. He is also working closely with the transportation authorities in both cities to ensure that route information is updated daily and that bus drivers become part of this growing digital network.
For years, the Kurdistan Region has struggled with severe traffic congestion and the absence of a modern digital public transportation system. As a result, most residents depend heavily on private vehicles for their daily travel. This has not only led to frustrating traffic jams during peak hours but has also had a significant negative impact on the environment.
In developed countries, encouraging people to use buses and trains is a fundamental part of urban planning. In the Kurdistan Region, however, the lack of reliable information about bus locations and arrival times has weakened the culture of using public transport. This technological initiative, born in Berlin, has the potential to become a turning point in restoring public confidence in the transport system, reducing travel costs for citizens, promoting cleaner mobility, and contributing to more organized, sustainable, and environmentally friendly cities.