The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation in collaboration with Malta Public Transport announced a new initiative "B'tal-linja għall-Istrina" which is being held on Saturday 17 December 2016.

"Through this initiative, the Company will donate the full ticket price paid by the passengers for their first trip of the day when using their personalised tallinja card or when buying a cash ticket on the bus. This means that people travelling by bus on the day will be helping to raise funds for charity," a statement read.

 "Our employees have always teamed up together to raise funds for those who are in need, and this year the company decided to take it a step further by encouraging passengers to travel by bus for l-Istrina," announced Konrad Pulé, General Manager at Malta Public Transport.

"L-Istrina is a national event that brings us all together to support those that are in need. This is why we wanted to involve our employees, and also our passengers who would be contributing to charity when taking the bus," he said.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca thanked Malta Public Transport for this initiative.

The donations will be made according to the fares paid by holders of personalised tallinja cards and the number of cash tickets purchased on buses. Passengers using the adult, the student and the Gozo tallinja cards pay €0.75c per trip, while holders of a concession and a child tallinja card pay €0.25c. All passengers may also choose to purchase cash tickets on the bus for €1.50c.