Daily Times

KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced Rs15 billion for Karachi’s Green Line bus project, which had been on the waiting list for long.

The PC-I for infrastructure of Green Line was approved by the ECNEC at a rationalised cost of Rs16,085 million and the Finance Division released Rs7,961 million for the project for the fiscal year 2015-16 under special arrangements.

Sharif said that Karachi was the commercial and financial hub of the country and its status as the ‘city of lights’ was being restored. He was talking to the media here after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of Rs16 billion Green Line Rapid Bus Transit project. He said the situation in Karachi had improved significantly and the pace of development and progress had also been improving. He said the people of Karachi had to face problems due to hurdles in the development process. He said that now the status of Karachi as the ‘city of lights’ was being restored and the process of development in the city was back on the track.

Sharif was of the view that a new face of Karachi would start emerging soon with the execution of development projects. He said that Karachi would be connected to Lahore through the motorway project and work on the first section of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway had already begun. He said the federal government was working in collaboration with the provincial government to supply water to the people of Karachi.

To a question about the law and order situation in the city, the prime minister said it was improving and businessmen, traders, workers and local residents were witness to this change.

Sharif vowed to restore peace in Karachi and said the operation against miscreants would continue till its logical conclusion. He said the days of kidnapping for ransom, target killing, acts of terrorism and street crimes were almost over. He said that negligence of the previous governments was the reason for the grave situation in Karachi. However, he said, the people of Karachi would soon leave behind the dark days of killings and bloodshed and move ahead towards a brighter future.

The prime minister said the 18.4-kilometre long Green Line would usher in a positive change in the city. He said it would include 11-kilometre long elevated section, with 22 bus stations and it would be better than the Lahore Metro Bus Service. He said that transparency and quality in the project would be ensured and the project would be completed next year.

The Karachi Infrastructure Development Company Limited (KIDCL) would undertake the project. KIDCL Chief Executive Officer Saleh Farooqi said the project would involve latest technology and be user and environment friendly and provide best available facilities to the users.

After the completion of the detailed design of the Green Line project, bidding documents were floated in August and September 2015 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report was approved in October. The project would be completed in phases.

Earlier, the prime minister chaired a meeting on law and order situation in Sindh soon after his arrival in the port city. He lauded the role of law enforcement agencies in securing peace in Karachi and paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of peace.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid accompanied Sharif. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Rangers Director General Major-General Bilal Akbar, Sindh Chief Secretary Siddique Memon and Sindh Police Inspector General Ghulam Haider Jamali also attended the meeting.