Karachi: Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar has said the federally funded Green Line Bus Rapid Transit Service (BRTS) - the first formal mass transit system in Karachi - will start operations by the middle of next year.
Umar stated this while talking to media persons as he along with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail launched the at grade development works at Naumiash Underpass as part of the common corridor of Green Line section of BRTS in the city.
The federal minister said on the occasion that five mega development projects in Karachi were mainly the responsibility of the federal government as work was expeditiously being done to develop these projects including the Green Line project. He said that work on the Green Line BRTS had entered its last phase as Green Line buses would start its operation by the mid of next year.
He said the Federal minister Prime Minister Imran Khan was keen to ensure that development works in Karachi made progress as this time people instead of mere statements would see development taking place in the city.
He said the centre had been cooperating with the Sindh government in every sphere and that needy of people of Sindh had been given Rs 65 billion under the Ehsaas programme of the federal government.
He said that one of the development works to be performed by the federal government was reconstruction and de-silting of storm water drains in the city so that Karachi should not be submerged due to accumulation of rainwater during monsoon rains.
Two islands
He said that negotiations were taking place with the Sindh government on the proposal of developing the two islands off the coast of Karachi.
He said that whatever development took place on the islands would be for the people of Sindh as the project would generate employment opportunities and revenue for people of Sindh.
Ismail said on the occasion that these islands would turn out to be the game-changer for Sindh. He said that revenue to be generated by developing these islands would go to the Sindh government’s kitty as the centre would not pocket a single penny out of it.
He said the project to develop the islands off the coast of Karachi expected to attract investment to the tune of 50 billion US Dollars as job opportunities would be generated for around 1,50,000 people.
