'Sindh government will lay foundation of KCR by September'

Murad Ali Shah speaks about the PM and other chief ministers' recent visit to China

KARACHI: The provincial government will lay the foundation of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project by September, Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah announced on Tuesday.

The CM said this while addressing a press conference after his visit to China, where he, along with the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and three other chief ministers, attended 'One Belt, One Road.'

"During my visit, I briefed the Chinese president about the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Sindh," Shah said, adding that the Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar supported them during their meetings with the Chinese president and others. President of China, Xi Jinping, was happy over the participation of all the provincial CMs from Pakistan, Shah informed.



The CM believes that KCR will be a game changer for urban transport in Karachi. "KCR is now a part of CPEC," he said, adding that the railways minister has also helped in the project. "It [KCR] will link 64 countries with each other," he added.

"We are putting all efforts to start work on this project by September and the maximum deadline for laying the foundation is December," the CM claimed, adding that they held a meeting with the Chinese planning and transport ministers to expedite work on the project. "We will live up to our pledge to provide relief to the people," he said.



Speaking about the labour being used for the CPEC projects in Sindh, CM said it depends on the government whether they give the opportunity to Chinese labourers or hire our own people.

Transport strike

Referring to the ongoing transporters strike in Karachi, the CM said traffic police have taken strict action and barred the movement of heavy vehicles in the city, following the court orders. "What can we do? If we ignore [the court order], it will be contempt of court," he said, adding the government is trying to approach the court to reconsider its decision.

PSP's rally

"A peaceful protest is the democratic right of every party, but it should not spiral out of control," the CM said while speaking about Pak Sarzameen Party's (PSP) May 14 rally and tear gas shelling by the police on the protesters.



Shah said PSP had initially got permission for the rally at the FTC Bridge and later, they announced to take it till Metropole Hotel with a plan to besiege CM house. "After police action, I ordered to release all leaders and workers of the party," he said, adding that the PSP was making women and children a human shield to violate the law and enter the red zone where Section 144 was imposed.