Pakistan

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

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurates Green Line bus project in Karachi

News Desk February 26, 2016

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is being received by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah at Karachi airport on February 26, 2016. PHOTO: PID

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."

PM to perform groundbreaking of Green Line BRT in Karachi tomorrow

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.”

Experts believe Green Line just another gimmick of Sindh govt

“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.

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

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.

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

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.

Green Line: In a rare first, govt asks city’s architects to weigh in on Karachi BRTS

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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COMMENTS (24)

umar | 8 years ago | Reply I encourge his effort but did not know why he supports transport not unemployment

Humza | 8 years ago | Reply @al: It's a shame that people like you can't understand that Metro Bus type urban transit schemes are encouraged by the United Nations as a way to promote efficient travel not only in developing countries but in more developed nations too. It's called basic infrastructure and it does impact quality of life. Most mass transit systems in developed countries actually are a financial liability and cost the state but it is done in the interest of a basic public service and amenity. Normally countries borrow for expensive infrastructure projects with the aim of improving living conditions and the economy. Incidentally, people in developed countries do get re elected if they perform well by carrying through on election promises and carrying through on an election mandate. You are right the majority of people in Pakistan have no idea about democracy because by following through on election promises, they earn the right to be re elected. Of course this depends on whether the public sees an improvement. If I see an improvement at the end of Nawaz's tenure, I will support him in the next election. If I don't see an improvement, I will consider voting for someone else if I believe their message. Get it?

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Ali S | 8 years ago | Reply As long as PPP is given the responsibility of this ambitious and much-needed project, it will remain a dream. PPP is completely and utterly hopeless and a curse for Karachiites

Bilal | 8 years ago | Reply Karachi don`t want these old fashioned W 11, F 11 named buses :-p We want green bus thank you Nawaz Sharif for this.

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply First two brothers were building roads and overheads now they have entered in transport business. Electricity was a prime requirement and twins failed. Now elder one promises beautiful buses with no guarantee of efficiency and parts of which will be stolen by mafias. Priority should have been given to stream line existing tracks of circular train. In second phase an under ground railway system would have been launched in phases. Alas both brothers have advisers like Ahsan Iqbal, Dar etc.

al | 8 years ago | Reply Anyone who thinks that METROS are signs of progress and development should have their brains checked. Human Development Index is the #1 reason of a country's progress. These are just election winning project built with borrowed money. top ten 1 Norway 2 Australia 3 Switzerland 4 Denmark 5 Netherlands 6 Germany 6 Ireland 8 United States 9 Canada 9 New Zealand 11 Singapore 147 PAKISTAN Majority people in Pakistan have no idea about true democracy.

MSH | 8 years ago | Reply One one hand we must thank Nawaz Sharif for this gift to Karachi but on the other it is a matter of Shame for Zardari ,Crime Ali Shah and Corrupt PPP leadership that in their 8 years rule in Sind and Pakistan they only have looted and plundered the national wealth. They have taken full revenge from people of Karachi by depriving them of a decent public transport,water and sanitation.

imran ali | 8 years ago | Reply Karachi need mass transit system interacted with circular railway.,Japan ready to finance the project.

asim | 8 years ago | Reply What is wrong? people don't need metros, they needs respect by the police, by the courts. There is so much corruption in the hiring of bureaucrats, which is a tough job to fix. PM is taking on the easy tasks of building metros, anyone can do that if they throw the tax payers money on it. If that's the case then let's make Malik Riaz our pm.

ZAK | 8 years ago | Reply Financial Capital of Pakistan need mega infrastructure project. You cannot ignore 20 million people. We strongly support such projects. Bring more.

Wajahat | 8 years ago | Reply Amazing to see how Pakistan Governments use word "inauguration" to descibe the project start-up and show it off as some kind of success when all they are doing is laying he foundation. For a PM to describe a public transport system as "beautiful" shows the priorities he has instead of focusing on health, education, welfare and reforms on taxation or governance.

Last Man Alive | 8 years ago | Reply Naimat ullah Khan launched Green CNG Buses in Karachi. Mustafa Kamal improved and widened the scope of Green CNG Buses project. Then came the Sindhi ruling mafia that looted Karachi. Parts and engines of the buses were stolen and now those buses eat dust. Ruling Sindhi mafia of wadera colony of Karachi will first loot the Green Bus funds then they will gradually but steadily eat away these buses. The buses will rest in dust.

salman | 8 years ago | Reply Good move however the PM probably meant less uglier

ZAK | 8 years ago | Reply The project will benefit million of people. It is really need of Karachiites. More such projects are need of hour. PM is requested to direct the concerned authorities for repair and construction of N5 portion from Khi airport to Pakistan Steel. This portion of N5 is in pathetic condition.Nobody bother to repair the same.Daily many precious lives are lost due bad highway condition. This highway connect KPT with M9.

Farru | 8 years ago | Reply The project is good but it would have been better if the federal government had revived the Karachi Circular railway or metro train service here. I am not a voter of PML(N) but I am sure this initiative will help the party in next general elections in Karachi. This is the second gift to Karachi'ites, the first one was peace that federal government has given to this city.

Noor Muhammad Memon | 8 years ago | Reply At long last,thanks to PMN, Karachi is going to have its much awaited Mass transit that would provide a convenient,inexpesive,fast & respectable mode for commuting/travel.It will also benefit the city environmentally & aesthetically. Let's hope the Karachites will take care of this asset.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply Please Mr Prime Minister, Sir, we have been listening to these homilies for decades and nothing positive ever results. Let us see what the results are. Salams

Razoo | 8 years ago | Reply Nawaz Shareef zindabad. Karachi needs you. What you have, are and will do for Karachi, has not n will never be done by the so called mandate owners of Sind and Karachi. I hope n pray that people of Karachi will open up all their senses and mind to embrace the new reality, shun the politics of ethnicity and take Karachi back on the path of development so desperately needed by karachites in particular and entire Pakistan in general. May Allah reward all those on the right path n those who are not, either right them or remove them from the face of Pakistan.

Ashfaq | 8 years ago | Reply While any public transport project for Karachi is a welcome gesture yet one of the most populated metropolitan cities of the world needs underground metro / tubes rather than congesting already loaded road infrastructure. Urban planner has already shown their reservation about any elevated system. Yes underground is expensive & time consuming yet in a longer run it is the best public mass transit system that has a capability to reduce pressure on roads. Google BRT vs Metro to get more comparative analysis throughout the world. Our neighbor India has opted for Metro over BRT for the same reasons.

User | 8 years ago | Reply Good and timely move, Karachi need it. And Beside fed government, sindh government should also start some good infrastructure projects especially for water.

maz3tt | 8 years ago | Reply it would have been good if with the same amount few buses would have been bought for the city. our pm would not be able to show off then,

Rizwan alam | 8 years ago | Reply Nawaz Shareef zindabad. Karachi needs you. What you have, are and will do for Karachi, has not n will never be done by the so called mandate owners of khi. I hope n pray that people of Karachi will open up all their senses and mind to embrace the new reality, shun the politics of ethnicity and take Karachi back on the path of development so desperately needed by karachites in particular and entire Pakistan in general. May Allah reward all those on the right path n those who are not, either right them or remove them from the face of Pakistan.

SK | 8 years ago | Reply Great initiative. Hopefully other arteries would be added to the network like Tariq Road, Clifton, Defence. Time to make people leave their vehicles at home and use these public means of transport.

Fast | 8 years ago | Reply Good and timely move, Karachi need it. And Beside fed government, sindh government should also start some good infrastructure projects especially for water.

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