Karachi’s Green Line bus will be more beautiful than Lahore metro: PM

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurates Green Line bus project in Karachi

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) at Karachi's Anu Bhai Park on Friday.

The project starts from Karachi’s Surjani Town area all the way till Guru Mandir.

"Karachi’s Green Line bus project will be more beautiful than the Lahore metro," the premier said while addressing the inauguration ceremony.

“I am glad this project has been launched within such short span of time. This project was extremely necessary for improving the transport system in Karachi. This will be completed by next year."



The prime minister said the law and order situation in Karachi had improved, which restored economic activity in the mega city.

“Karachi’s situation has significantly improved and the crimes rate has now reached its lowest but we will not stop the Karachi operation until the restoration of complete peace in the city. We will bring this operation to a logical end.”

An Express News screengrab.

He hoped more development projects will be initiated in the city.

“Although the Green Line project was to be connected with the Blue Line project at Guru Mandir area but the Blue Line has been delayed, therefore, we have decided to extend the Green Line project to the central business district.”

The premier said work has started on Karachi-Lahore motorway project which will connect the city from major cities of the country and will bring prosperity to its citizens.

“These are huge projects which will not only reduce the distance among the people of different provinces but will also unite them,” he said.

Whose line is it anyway?

The prime minister also said work will begin on the Lyari Expressway in next 15 days while water projects will also be initiated in Karachi.

Sindh governor lauds PM's effort for bringing peace in Karachi

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan thanked the prime minister for the mass transit project which he said was significant for the development of Karachi.

Khan appreciated the steps taken by the prime minister to improve law and other situation in the city.

“Karachi operation was initiated in consultation with all political stakeholders and law enforcement agencies for which the prime minister deserves highest of accolades.”



“We appreciate the efforts made by the DG Rangers Sindh Maj-Gen Bilal Akbar, Karachi Corps Commander Lt-Gen Naveed Mukhtar, former DG Rangers and DG ISI Lt-Gen Rizwan Akhtar and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif in translating the resolve of the prime minister on ground in improving the law and order situation in Karachi.”

The governor also requested the prime minister to help aid the Sindh government in further development projects including water projects and railway projects for Karachi.

Sindh chief minister thanks PM Nawaz

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah thanked the prime minister for providing financial assistance in the Green Line project.

“I appreciate the efforts being done by the prime minister. The mass transit project was an earnest need of the people of this mega city,” he said.

Shah said the federal government has provided 50% funds for the K-4 water project in Karachi which will eliminate the water woes of the metropolis.



During his address, Shah requested the prime minister to start the motorway project from Hyderabad instead of Sukkur so that maximum citizens could benefit from the project.

PM reviews overall law, order situation in Sindh

After his arrival in the city, the PM attended a meeting to review the over all law and order situation in Sindh and received a detailed briefing at the Sindh Governor's House.

According to sources, he appreciated the efforts of the law enforcement agencies for restoring peace in the province, but also expressed concern over the rise in the incidents of street crimes in Karachi.

The PM directed the authorities to take required measures to ensure the elimination of street crimes from the city, sources added.

The meeting was attended among others by Governor Sindh, Sindh chief minister and DG Rangers Sindh Major General Bilal Akbar.

Nawaz meets terminally ill cancer patient

During his brief stopover at the Governor's House, the prime minister also met a terminally ill patient whose most cherished wish was to meet the prime minister.

PHOTO: PM HOUSE

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister House, Anwarullah Afridi is suffering from cancer.

Earlier, upon his arrival the prime minister was received by Sindh governor and chief minister along with other senior officials at the Karachi airport.

A fully autonomous company, the Karachi Infrastructure Development Company Limited (KIDCL) has been incorporated under a board of directors.

It comprises a good mix of project stakeholders, including senior government functionaries, independent technical directors and members from the academia to take decisions independently for planning and implementation of the project.

It is expected that after its completion, the corridor will benefit nearly 300,000 passengers per day with an estimated cost of Rs16 billion.

Funding of the entire project has been provided by the federal government, announced in the 2015-16 budget.



Out of the 17.8km stretch of the Green Line BRT, 9.92km will be elevated and 7.88km will be on ground. There will be a total of 21 stations along its route.

The project will be completed in about a year’s time, and the infrastructure will be handed over to the Sindh government once construction is complete.

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