- Nawaz says federal govt will provide Rs 15b for Metro Bus System in Karachi
- Grills Sindh CM for repeatedly changing provincial police chief, deteriorating law and order situation
- Karachi traders ask premier to deploy army in city, considering the deteriorating security situation
- Sindh CM expresses ‘confusion’ over demand, says he cannot restore law and order in six months
In lieu of rising transportation woes of the city dwellers, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday announced the launch of Rs 15 billion Metro Bus Project, to be named Green Line, for Karachi.
The premier made this announcement while chairing a high-level meeting held at Sindh Governor’s House to review law and order situation in Karachi. The premier was on a one-day visit to the metropolitan city.
The bus service route would be 24.5 kilometres long, beginning from Surjani Town and concluding at Tower. Modern air-conditioned buses would be plied on the track and the project would be completed “soon”.
Addressing the meeting, the premier said that the green bus project is a gift of federal government to Karachiites and would prove to be a milestone. People would get more transport facilities through this project as 350,000 passengers will be able to utilise this service daily, he said.
Moreover, he said that Rs 55 billon had also been released to National Highway Authority (NHA) for acquiring land for Lahore-Karachi Motorway which would begin soon.
PM DISSATISFIED WITH LAW AND ORDER:
As regards to the law and order situation in the city, the premier expressed his displeasure over the performance of Sindh government and ordered the formulation of a joint action plan with the cooperation of law enforcement institutions and Interior Ministry to curb criminal activities in the metropolis.
Expressing fears of backlash in major cities because of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, the premier emphasised that law enforcement agencies should ensure that the security situation remains under control.
Nawaz also criticised the Sindh chief minister for repeatedly changing Sindh inspector general of police (IGP). Addressing Qaim Ali Shah, he said, “You even transferred the services of IGP Sindh to the federation. Nine out of ten decisions taken during the last briefing on Karachi law and order have not yet been implemented.”
The high-level meeting was attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, Sindh Chief Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiyana, Rangers Director General Maj Gen Rizwan Akhtar, acting Sindh IGP Ghulam Haider Jamali, Karachi corps commander, representatives from Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Awami National Party (ANP).
The premier was briefed on law and order situation in the city and progress on Karachi operation by Sajjad Saleem Hotiyana.
The CS told the meeting that 7,000 policemen had been recruited whose training was underway. He said the targeted operation in Karachi was heading in the right direction and that sensitive areas had been identified following the attack on Karachi airport. The work on erection of walls around the sensitive national installations was also underway, he added.
The Karachi corps commander assured that the army would extend its cooperation for maintaining law and order in the provincial capital. However, the Rangers DG complained that most of the criminals arrested by the paramilitary force were back on the streets as courts set them free.
Meanwhile, a Sindh Governor spokesman said that a project linking Karachi Port from Bin Qasim Port was also approved in the meeting with the efforts of Dr Ishratul Ibad. He said that project, named Malir Motorway Project, would join the two ports and would cost Rs 42 billion. The prime minister had directed NHA to initiate work on the project.
KARACHI TRADERS’ WOES:
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), in a letter presented to the prime minister on behalf of six industrial associates, traders and businessmen, asked the premier to deploy the army in the city considering the deteriorating security situation.
The traders complained about the law and order situation of Karachi in the letter, saying that traders were still being kidnapped despite the ongoing operation in the city.
They said the operation was successful during the first two months. However, they said that they are still being subjected to extortion.
President of the KCCI said that if the army can be deployed in Multan, it can also be deployed in Karachi. The letter also stated a request to the premier to hand the city to the army for three to four months.
It also added that the Karachi operation had become politicised, and the prime minister should take a stand.
On hearing the complaints of the traders, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah expressed his confusion. He said a few days ago the traders had said law and order in Karachi had improved, but they were singing a different tune in front of the premier.
Shah also said that he could not restore the law and order situation in six months.
In a light moment during the meeting, the Sindh chief minister accidentally requested Rs 220 million for the people of Karachi. Following laughter in the room, he corrected the statement and asked for Rs 22 million.
I can not believe what I am reading. Putting more buses on already crowded roads. Karachi needs a subway system like any major city of the world. Instead of erecting the walls around the important buildings & installations, why not eradicate the parasites. Where on the Earth we see that being done. Either PM is out of mind, or he does not know how the country should be run. Pakistan can not be run like Ittefaq Industries.
Metro train is also must be required in Karachi, just like in other big cities of Subcontinent Lahore, Delhi and Mumbai.
I think Metro is a better idea compared to a subway because we cannot have advance systems with poor economic and security status.
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