A delegation from the World Bank met with Senior Minister of Sindh and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon, in which various issues related to transport projects underway with the support of the World Bank, improvement of public transport, investment opportunities, future infrastructure projects and urban development were discussed in detail. On this occasion, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon briefed the delegation in detail about the progress made on the ongoing Yellow Line BRT project in Karachi and said that the Sindh government is making every effort to complete the project according to the prescribed standards and timeline.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary Transport Asad Zamin and other officials.
The World Bank delegation appreciated the reforms and innovative projects introduced by the Sindh government in the public transport sector and termed the EV bus service and the Pink EV Scooty scheme launched for women as commendable. The delegation said that such projects will not only provide better travel facilities to the citizens but will also play an important role in achieving the goals of environmental protection and sustainable development.
The delegation stressed the need to further strengthen the transparency, effective implementation, scrutiny, monitoring and risk mitigation systems of the projects and also suggested that greater involvement of the private sector and investors would further enhance the sustainability and scope of the projects.
On this occasion, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that strong coordination between all relevant institutions is essential for the success of major development projects and we have to have all the partners work together on a single platform so that the fruits of development projects reach the people in a timely manner. He also apprised the World Bank delegation about the Sindh government’s exclusive bus routes project and said that the government is introducing exclusive bus routes under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, through which private investors will be provided with extensive investment opportunities. He further informed that the Sindh government will soon organize a workshop comprising businessmen, investors and representatives of the World Bank to hold detailed consultations on various aspects of the project. Sharjeel Inam Memon invited the World Bank to consider investment and technical assistance in the exclusive bus routes project.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government wants to further promote its long-standing cooperation with the World Bank in the future and also seeks the support and partnership of the World Bank in future transport, infrastructure and urban development projects. He said that the need for quality public transport in a big city like Karachi is constantly increasing, keeping this need in mind, the Sindh government is soon introducing 500 more eco-friendly electric (EV) buses. He said that the use of eco-friendly EV buses will significantly reduce air pollution and help in the promotion of green transport. He also emphasized that Sindh is the first province in the country to introduce EV bus service and also became the first province to obtain carbon credits, which is a clear proof of the effective steps of the Sindh government regarding environmental protection.
Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon further said that the Sindh government is keen to run a high-speed train from Karachi to Sukkur, which will prove to be an important milestone for travel facilities, commercial activities and economic development in the province. He said that the Sindh government wants international financial institutions like the World Bank and private investors to invest in this mega project. He further said that the Sindh government also plans to run a modern freight train from Maripur to Northern Bypass, which will play an important role in making the freight system from Karachi Port more efficient, faster and less costly. According to him, such projects will not only reduce traffic pressure in the city but will also provide a new impetus to the country’s trade, industrial activities and overall economic development.