Karachi’s Green Line bus project finally inaugurated
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday finally inaugurated Karachi’s much-delayed Green Line Bus Rapid Transport System (GLBRTS) project, which will help overcome the difficulties faced by commuters in the city’s West and Central districts.
Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the occasion, the premier, who was accompanied by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, said the Green Line project was the first step towards modernization of Karachi in terms of transport.
PM Imran also congratulated Umar and the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (SIDCL) for working on the project with “complete determination”.
The Rs35.5 billion GLBRTS project, which includes 21 stations along with ticketing rooms, escalators and stairs, also has the facility of backup generators to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity. It has the capacity to cater to the needs of 135,000 commuters.
“Any modern city cannot be successfully run without a modern transport system,” the premier said while giving examples of hugely populated Chinese cities with effective public transport facilities.
“The Green Line project will help fulfill the modern-day transportation requirements of the residents of Karachi.”
Describing Karachi as an “engine of growth” for Pakistan, he noted that the prosperity of the city was linked to that of the country.
The prime minister said every country having a modern city including UK’s London, France’s Paris and the US’ New York contributed to its development and prosperity.
“The success of Karachi will also help Pakistan achieve progress and prosperity.”
PM Imran said that the governments in the past had not focused on a modern transportation system for the city.
“I have been seeing Karachi for 50 years. We have seen its transformation into a cave because we did not focus on its administration.”
The premier noted that despite sanctions on Iran, its capital Tehran had become a modern and prosperous city with all civic facilities because of a modern management system.
“Tehran, which does not receive any funds from a public sector development programmed like in Pakistan, collects and generates around $500 million [per annum] in local revenue as against Karachi, which might be collecting something around $30 million,” he observed.
The prime minister maintained that he was closely invested in the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme project, also called K-IV, through coordination with the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), to resolve the city’s water woes.
He added that work on the project would start from January 2022 and be completed in 14-15 months.
“The supply of water from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi will start by September 2023.”
Speaking about health insurance, the premier said even certain developed countries did not have universal healthcare.
He elaborated that with the Sehat Card facility, everyone in Punjab would get free healthcare by March next year.
The prime minister urged the Sindh government to become a part of the federal government’s health scheme for the sake of the poor.
Commenting on the proposed development plan of Bundal Island, PM Imran maintained that the initiative would help create more jobs in Sindh. “This will benefit Sindh most,” he said, adding that it was vital to build “modern cities” to meet the growing needs of the country.
He also gave the example of Ravi City, saying such developments will curb pollution and other issues.
“I again urge the Sindh government to give the federal government an NOC [no-objection certificate] for the development of this island,” he said, adding that the Center would benefit from the foreign direct investments only.
“Our population is growing. We are building a modern city named Ravi City in Lahore and taking care of the environment there,” PM Imran said.
“Pollution levels are also high in Karachi and it is necessary to have a modern city like the Bundal Island project. When we undertake projects, it is better if we do it collectively with coordination.”
Earlier, Planning and Development Minister Umar maintained that the Sindh governor was supervising the project since the PTI came to power.
In December 2020, he added, the SIDCL became a part of the planning ministry and the government started working on the project.
Pointing out that although the project had been approved in 2016, the minister claimed that its infrastructure was not built during the PML-N’s next 28 months in power.
He claimed that the order for the buses was also not placed and neither was the payment system designed.
“The operation and maintenance tender was also not placed. The PML-N only thought about building a track surrounded by grills with no other facilities available.”
He noted that work on the Mehmoodabad nullah had been completed and it would be inaugurated in 10 days. The minister added that 50% of the work on the Gujjar and Orangi nullahs had been completed.
Umar further said the Frontier Works Organization had been mobilized for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project and work had begun on the ground. He added that international as well as local companies were showing interest in the project.
Later, while presiding over a meeting of PTI’s regional presidents and general secretaries, PM Imran urged the Sindh government to fully participate in the federal government projects of socioeconomic development including Kamyab Pakistan, Sehat Card, Ehsaas Card, Ehsaas Rashan Programmed and Kisan Card.
He said the people of Sindh could not be kept deprived of the benefits of the federal government’s projects because of “mere political reasons” as all of the initiatives were aimed at public welfare.