PM terms Green Line a 'gift for the people of Karachi'

Nawaz says work on Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway will be completed by 2017

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced grants for major development projects in Sindh on Tuesday claiming that a new transport system, Green Line, is a gift for the people of Karachi.

“All funds for the Green Line will be paid by the federal government, it will be a gift for the people of Karachi,” the premier said, while addressing the National Assembly.

“Rs5 billion have been released for the Green Line bus project in Karachi,” he added. The premier upheld it is a mega project and is expected to be completed at a cost of Rs20 to Rs25 billion.

“We are initiating several projects in collaboration with the Sindh government,” Nawaz added.

Read: Stay online on the Green Line from Karachi to Islamabad

Further, Nawaz said work on the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway has also started and it will be completed by 2017.

Read: Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway: We want to bring hearts closer, says PM

Regarding his recent visit to Tajikistan, the premier said, “During our meetings we emphasized the need for a route to central Asia through Gwadar.”

"The government is also launching a mega project to connect Gwadar Port with the Central Asian States and then to the Western route of China, Pakistan Economic Corridor."

Announcing that he has decided to match the grants allocated by the Sindh government for the K-4 drinking water project, the prime minister announced, “We will match the Sindh government’s grant of Rs2.5billion for K-4.”

The K4 is designed to double the capacity of Karachi’s water supply system for the fact that with a population of 18 million people Karachi is already one of the most populous cities in the world and is estimated to have 28 million people by 2020, which and increasing industrial activity could need an additional 120MGD of water demand every two years.

‘Did not mean to call MQM chief a fly’

Further, addressing MQM’s concerns over the premier’s statement that “even if a fly dies, strike is called in Karachi,” Nawaz clarified he said it on a light note.

“When I meet MQM leaders, I will also clarify to them that I did not mean to call anyone a fly,” Nawaz clarified.

Read: Paralysing the economy: PM wants an end to strikes in Karachi

“I just said it on a light note,” he added.

Stressing that the ‘culture of strikes’ need to end in Karachi, the premier issued a statement which irked MQM leaders.

Read: Karachi strike remarks: MQM chief calls for resignation of PM

Following the remarks the MQM chief Altaf Hussain terming his friendship with the premier a 'mistake' demanded his resignation.