'Green signal to Karachi Circular Railway a big success for city'

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said that the approval of Karachi Circular Railway by Joint Working Group of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a big success for the people of Karachi.

“This is the result of our constant and sincere efforts of the provincial government,” sai the chief minister addressing a reception hosted for the Joint Working Group (JWG) of CPEC on Transport Infrastructure.

He said an important meeting with Transport Infrastructure JWG of CPEC was held where they discussed all the three projects, KCR, Keti Bandar and Special Economic Zone Dhabeji.  The projects were approved for the province and will be recommended to Joint Coordination Committee of CPEC for implementation under the CPEC framework.

The chief Minister said that CPEC would help build a robust and stable economy in Sindh together with generating sound prospect for the province to revive and expand its road connectivity.

“This will augment a new era of connectivity through which better fruits of economic benefits will be reaped by employment generation and decent mode of transportation,” he said.

He said that he along with a senior level delegation participated in the JCC meeting on CPEC held in Beijing on December 29 last year, where the Sindh government proposed these three projects for implementation under CPEC which was graciously accepted.

CM Sindh said that the provincial government talking cognizance of the importance of KCR has approved the feasibility and framework agreement and shared with federal government to meet timelines aand initiate this mega project of high priority at the earliest.

“The KCR is the integral part of the comprehensive Mass Transit System envisaged for this mega city,” he said and added there was a most high public demand for KCR with ample ridership of 700,000 per day.

He said that Karachi is among the most populated cities in the world and there will be ample returns on any investment made in the city in wider economic terms including reduced vehicle operation cost and travel time cost.

He said that a comprehensive mass transit system is the only solution to address the bourgeoning population of the mega city. Therefore, he said the Sindh government has started working on various Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines which complement KCR and try to reduce the misery of commuters.

He went on saying that the investors were invited to contribute in equity of KCR and other mass transit systems in Sindh.

Keti Bandar and Special Economic Zone Dhabeji

CM Sindh said that the Sindh’s coastline is more than 300 kilometers long and has two ports Keamari and Bin Qasim. He added that a new jetty at Keti Bundar would enhance county’s capability to export coal with potential to develop it as a full port. “Five million people living in the surrounding areas would directly benefit from it,” he said.

Talking about Special Economic Zone, the chief minister said that Sindh has already established few SEZs like Bin Qasim Industrial Park, Korangi Creek Industrial Park and Khairpur Special Economic Zone.

He added that Dhabeji stretches over 1000 acres and is about 55 kilometers from Karachi at the Eastern alignment of CPEC and has commercial viability and development potential in the immediate terms.

He went on saying that with the advent of the manufacturing agro-based industry, it is believed that this economic zone would usher in bringing prosperity for the growers of this province coupled with substantial increase in the production sector.

CM Sindh said that the CPEC would prove to be historic milestone in the history of Pakistan-China relations which would not only bring extensive development opportunities to the local and under-developed areas of the country.

After through discussion the 5th Joint Working Group on Transport Infrastructure has approved and recommended the revival of Karachi Circular Railway to the JCC of CPEC for implementation under CPEC framework.