Govt to ban old buses after BRT projects start: Memon
Old and outdated buses will not be allowed to ply on roads in Karachi after completion of mass transit projects, said Sindh Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon.
"Representative bodies of transporters have been conveyed this message in a meeting, “Memnon said addressing press conference at Sindh Archives Department.
He further said that he had offered transporters to investing the transport sector and bring modern buses or forma consortium in this regard to ensure required finances while Sindh government is ready to provide them every facility including subsidies.
He said that thousands of buses would be brought for Karachi and negotiations have been held with three countries including China and Turkey.
Companies from above countries have been invited to set up public transport manufacturing units in Sindh.
“Our priority is to encourage public transport industry in Pakistan as such it would provide employment besides bringing improvements in local mass transport sector, “Memnon said.
The Provincial Minister said that the test drive of Sindh People's Intra District Bus Service commenced the other day.
People's bus service will start its operations in the current month in Karachi and Larkana.
He added that Abdul Sattar Edhi Orange Line would also be launched for public in June.
This will not stop here, he said and added that work on the Asian Development Bank funded BRT Red Line project is also being expedited, while a proposal has also been received on the Blue Line project.
Sharjeel Memon said that public transport projects are being started all over Sindh.
Our next target is Hyderabad, where state of the art BRTs will be launched as its paperwork has been started.
He said that Sindh government is trying to bring modern air-conditioned buses in every district in the province.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strictly directed to provide modern commuting facilities to the people of Sindh.
He said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah is also taking a keen interest in improving the public transport infrastructure in the province.
He added that Sindh government is investing in the transport sector but due to limited government resources it could only invest to a certain extent.