
PDP urges Sindh govt to revive KTC
He said resolving Karachi's public transport issues require a multi-faceted approach, addressing infrastructure, governance, funding, and urban planning. He said several KTC bus depots are present with workshops and hundreds of old buses parked there. He said these depots and old buses could be repaired and run on roads. He said a revived KTC is the easiest solution to help resolve public transport issues of Karachi.
The megacity needs integrated mass transit systems. He said the government should complete and extend existing BRT lines including Green Line and Red Line to cover more areas.
He said revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) is a must. The federal government and its railways department should modernize and operationalize KCR with electric trains, connecting key hubs. He asked to introduce underground/subway lines in high-density areas like Saddar, Gulshan and Nazimabad.
He urged to improve the existing transport modes and regulate private buses & minibuses. He asked for enforcing route permits, fare controls, and safety standards.
He asked to revamp KTC), and reinstate government-run buses with GPS tracking and fixed schedules. He said Karachi needs dedicated Bus Lanes, as congestion can be reduced by allocating exclusive lanes for buses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Red Line BRT project: KE ordered to relocate utility infrastructure by Sept 15
KARACHI: The Sindh government has directed K-Electric to relocate utility infrastructure obstructing the Red Line BRT project by September 15. It has also instructed the Water Board to expedite the completion of the 2.7-kilometre K-IV pipeline within the BRT corridor at the earliest. An important meeting regarding the Red Line BRT project was held in Karachi under the chairmanship of Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon. The meeting was attended by Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, Trans Karachi CEO Fawad Ghaffar Soomro, along with engineers, consultants, and representatives of K-Electric. During the meeting, officials gave a detailed briefing on the progress of the BRT project. The forum reviewed the measures taken to remove obstacles hindering the project and discussed the challenges being faced in its execution. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon directed that all issues hindering the project be resolved immediately to ensure that the pace of work on the Red Line BRT remains uninterrupted. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon directed K-Electric officials to complete the relocation of all utilities obstructing the Red Line BRT route by September 15, 2025. He also instructed the Water Board authorities to expedite the completion of the K-IV pipeline to ensure that the project's progress is not hindered. He said the Red Line BRT is a vital project for the public and that further delays are unacceptable. He urged all stakeholders to enhance communication and cooperation to ensure uninterrupted progress on the project. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business Recorder
Heavy external debt hurting economy: PDP
KARACHI: Heavy external debt is stagnating economy and social uplift of Pakistan, and unless this debt trap is broken, the country cannot get its true sovereignty and freedom, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Sunday. He said more than half of our national budget is being devoured by loans and their interest. The government takes new loans to retire old ones. This situation is ideal only for the lenders and bankers, who continue to suck the blood of Pakistani people. He said our lenders shape our policies and without their prior permission the Pakistani government cannot even give relief to its citizens. However, PDP General Secretary Engineer Iqbal Hashmi said Pakistan has become a slave of the IMF and makes policies according to their directives. He said it is not easy to come out of this trap without sincere leadership and sound strategies. Hashmi said after paying Rs 8.2 trillion which is 48 percent of the budget, nothing is left for economic development. He said IMF loan has slowed down the economic growth which is on average a meagre 3.5 percent in the last ten years. This year real GDP growth rate is predicted at 2.8 percent which is lower than the countries in the region. He said Pakistan's GDP is stagnant at 375 billion dollars. A retail stores chain in the US earns more than double of this in terms of revenue. He said half of the Pakistani population lives below subsistence level and more are drowning into poverty each year. He said rescheduling of principal amount each year is an indicator that Pakistan can not afford more loans but each year new loan provisions are inbuilt in the budget. He regretted that Pakistan has pledged all assets to get loans and now they get loans on the guarantees provided by friendly counties. However, Altaf Shakoor added that the situation is not sustainable and someone should think out-of-the-box to break the shackles of loans. He said our economy is of the bankers and for the bankers, as only banks are thriving on the growing debt at the cost of poor Pakistanis. He demanded to get passed a law from the parliament to ban new loans for next ten years, so as to provide some breathing space to our choking economy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Express Tribune
28-07-2025
- Express Tribune
CM charts road to reform, recovery, celebration
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah laid out a sweeping vision for provincial development, police reform, and flood rehabilitation, during a session with Civil Service Academy probationary officers and senior officials at the CM House. Development, flood recovery Focusing on infrastructure and post-disaster recovery, CM Shah detailed a development budget that includes Rs366.75 billion in foreign-funded projects. The government is prioritising the expansion of Karachi's road network, construction of new flyovers and underpasses, and the continued implementation of major transit projects like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Law and Order CM Shah highlighted the role of Sindh Police, with 162,000 personnel and a legacy of sacrifice marked by 2,549 martyrs. Addressing lawlessness in the Katcha area, he pointed to ongoing efforts to build roads, improve infrastructure, and boost police mobility. Intelligence Upgrades Shah cited the arrest of individuals involved in attacks on Chinese nationals and the foiling of major terror plots. He highlighted the Rs772 million Fusion Centre, equipped with intelligence, data analytics, and digital forensics, as a critical upgrade to Sindhs investigative capacity. Fiscal Decentralisation To decentralise police funding, the government has allocated Rs6 billion to police stations, granting station officers greater fiscal autonomy. Shah also noted improvements to police stations and the introduction of a Rs4.9 billion health insurance program covering officers and their families. Crisis Management Crisis preparedness has also seen significant strides. The government has established a Crisis Management Unit trained by Turkey's Anti-Riot Force. The unit is equipped with 2,000 anti-riot kits and includes female officers. Solid waste emergency project Shah also discussed the USD 100 million Solid Waste Emergency Project, which aims to modernise Karachi's waste management system. Key efforts include establishing state-of-the-art landfill sites at Jam Chakro and Dhabeji, improving emergency waste response, and reducing urban pollution. Delta Blue Carbon Project Touching on environmental sustainability, the CM praised the Delta Blue Carbon Project, which conserves 225,000 hectares in the Indus Delta. The project is expected to reduce 127 million tonnes of CO? emissions and generate government revenue through verified carbon credits. Independence Day In anticipation of Independence Day, Shah chaired a meeting on the upcoming celebrations and the "Maarka Haq" (Battle for Justice) events. He called on bankers and prominent industrialists across the country to actively participate. The Department of Culture will host a public concert and fireworks show at the National Stadium on August 13, while the Captain Sailor Shaheed Sports Gala will also be organised to mark the occasion. Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is planning another concert and fireworks display at Jahangir Kothari, with the date to be announced soon. The Sports Department will organise a marathon at Nishan Pakistan and Do Darya on August 10, followed by a donkey cart race at Sea View the same day. The Department of Fisheries is set to hold a boat race at the port and Keamari on August 9.