KCR Project Vital for People of Karachi, CM Murad Reminds Federal Govt

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in a meeting with the Railway minister Khuwaja Saad Rafique reminded the federal government that only a modern Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) can mitigate the traffic problems of the people of Karachi. The statement of the CM came just a day after the center clearly stated that the establishment of the KCR was not likely to be taken up in the near future. The meeting between the CM Sindh and the federal Railway minister was held to discuss mega projects of national interest including the KCR.

The CM Sindh said, “Karachi is a megalopolis city and its traffic problems can only be solved with the introduction of a modern KCR system which would be supplemented and integrated with different BRT lines.” He added, “In December 2016 the KCR has included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) priority projects and approved by the CPEC-related Joint Coordination Committee. The ECNEC approved the project at a cost of Rs207.54 billion, which included a Chinese loan of $1.971 billion.” the CM Sindh urged the railway minister to speed up the laying of the railway tracks from Thar coal mines to the main line. He added that the coal-fired power projects of the country with indigenous Thar coal would provide a cheaper source of energy besides saving precious foreign exchange.

The federal railway minister assured the CM Sindh that the PM is scheduled to visit China soon in which he would discuss the KCR with Chinese officials and hopefully the KCR Project would be approved with mutual understanding of the two countries. Meanwhile, the MQM-P leaders also urged the federal minister for early completion of the KCR. MQM leader Amir Khan Said, “We have shared our observations and suggestions with the federal minister regarding the KCR, It’s a very crucial project for the people of Karachi and it requires special attention from the Centre. So we have asked him for early completion of the project.”