‘Istanbul authorities to help run Karachi tram’

Karachi Administrator Iftikhar Shallwani said on Monday that the city administration would utilise the experience of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) in order to restore and operate Karachi's historical tram service.

Shallwani, who is currently visiting Istanbul in this regard, went to the IMM on Monday, where he observed the facilities offered by the municipal committee to the Turkish city's residents. He and his team were also briefed about Istanbul's roads and railway infrastructure.

"We are considering all angles to complete the [tram] project at a reasonable cost," he stated while talking to IMM deputy general secretary Ibrahim Orhan Demir and rails director Serap Timur. "Both cities faced difficulties after the 1960s, but while Istanbul managed to overcome its issues after the 1980s, we are still striving to resolve them in Karachi."

It was decided on the occasion that the IMM would cooperate with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and offer its experience and expertise to help the latter operate the tram service in the port city.

"Solving issues related to mass transit is our topmost priority," stated Shallwani, adding that the tram service had been introduced in Karachi before the creation of Pakistan but was later shut down.

"Karachi faces transport woes owing to its large population, which is why we are considering the restoration of tram service," he elaborated.

Shallwani went on to say that Turkey and Pakistan had an exemplary relationship and the latter had helped Pakistan in its development, especially in the construction and mass transit sectors.

He stated that facilities similar to those being provided to the people of Istanbul would be given to Karachiites as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2020.