Karachi is the economic powerhouse of the country and we would have thought that its obvious needs in terms of mass-transit systems would have merited the most urgent attention by the PML-N government. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan and China have signed an agreement to set up another mass-transit project this time in Lahore. It is to be a train line, 27.1km in length, to be called the ‘Orange Line’ and it is to cost $1.27 billion. Interaction with our Chinese neighbour and increasingly our economic partner, are at a high water mark. The China-Pakistan economic corridor is to be fast-tracked and there are expectations that China will be closely engaged in reviving the almost moribund Gwadar project, possibly underwriting a road and rail link northwards to Kashgar in southern China. All this is good news indeed and we welcome the possibility of further improvements in transport infrastructure — but there are caveats.
Thus far the mega-transport projects of this government are to the benefit of the people of Punjab. Where is the mass-transit project for Karachi? Has the talk of the revival of the Circular Railway vanished into thin air? The city is the economic powerhouse of the country and we would have thought that its obvious needs in terms of mass-transit systems would have merited the most urgent attention by the PML-N government. Quetta would also doubtless benefit from an upgrade to its transport systems and so would have Peshawar, a city that struggles with congested arteries. There are inflated claims as to the number of jobs that the new metro system will generate; and no metro system anywhere in the world is worth the cost of its construction unless it is plugged into efficient subsidiary road and rail systems.
There is very real public anger in both Islamabad and Rawalpindi at the disruption that the construction of the Metro Bus project is causing there, with obvious damage to the ‘green’ infrastructure in Islamabad and a life of utter chaos and misery for those living and working along the route in Rawalpindi. The Orange Line in Lahore may complement the Metro Bus service — which is currently receiving mixed reviews — and we hope that it is indeed an economic engine, but it is time the other provinces also replicated such projects.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (11)
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Any such project in Karachi is the responsibility of the provincial government - why are the leaders of Sindh not asked this question?
@Oton: These people want to complain but blame others if they are getting ahead. Why don't other CMs work as hard as Shahbaz Sharif? Jealousy is never a good instinct. People in Lahore are happy about Metro Bus so Karachi should make one too.
@Faizan
Metro Bus route follows the Murree Road- Jinnah Avenue corridor, they most heaviest plied commuter route. Surely you know all the places it links?
Saddar, Raja Bazaar, Center Hospital, Commercial Area, Arid Agriculture Uni, Faizabad Adda, as well as HEC, NUML, AIOU, F9-Park, Islamabad Court, The Entirety of Blue Area, PIMS, Poly Clinic and Pak Secretariat, just to name a few.
Does it touch EVERY important place? No, obviously not. But it DOES cover one the major bulk-commuter travel route.
And this is not the only transit system planned, i've hear they have plans for route covering Islamabad Highway etc, though I'm not sure whether they will be BRT or ordinary bus, details are still Hazy.
Also, I've heard that SS announced Metro bus for Multan and Faisalabad, so there is that, I guess.
Till Karachi is a separate province it will never be able to compete with Lahore
@observer: I remember when Nawaz Sharif was pushing for motorways, people were saying it was a waste of money and making all kinds of objections. Can anyone doubt the utility of Motorways now? Same for this public transport initiatives.
Good idea, but where is the money going to come from? The Chinese will never give any freebies. Unless there is a big profit for them, they will not be too anxious to proceed as per past experience when they pulled out of many signed contracts.
Not a single time you mentioned that where is CM of Sindh known as Qaim Ali Shah.?. Shahbaz Sharif is active on Facebook and on other social forums. Mr Shahbaz is pretty active and going for every length to bring investment to Punjab. On the other hand PPP remained in Power for the last five years and they never bothered about Karachi. Mr Qaim Ali Shah is virtually invisible to everyone right now. Metro Projects are Provincial projects and i am sure if Shah sahib will move some summary then it will be approved at a provincial level. Lahore Metro, Pindi Metro Line and Even Orange Metro Funding will be borne by the budget of Punjab then why Sindh government cannot do the same. ???
@stevenson: Well dear, you shall travel to metro track. Commute for a few minutes using the infamous bus system. Then travel again to your workplace. Can you tell me how does it help unless your workplace and home are located close to the track? In Lhr, metro bus helps mazdoor tabqa enter and leave the city. Thats about it. While you are at it, how about demanding the same for stone-age areas of Punjab? say, Multan and Bahawalpur?
I am pleased about the Metro Bus Service coming to Rawalpindi - Islamabad because I live there. I have not met anyone apart from a few rich folks complain. The Metro Bus will be a blessing for working class people and not help rich people with cars but provide great affordable transport for common citizens like my gardener. Nothing is stopping Karachi from building their own transit system but the people there keep electing the wrong people who are not interesting in improving Sind. The last 15 years have seen rulers from Sind but there wasn't a complaint about what they didn't make. Love them or hate them, the provincial government in Punjab has been building the province and people support them for it. Don't blame the Federal government for provincial initiatives which are supported by people all over Punjab.
we need an underground train system like the one in London and Paris, not these metro trains or buses. Unfortunately, the government is only interested in short term measure not the future needs of the country.