By: USMAN HANIF
The Malik Enterprise in a joint venture with Shanghai Sunlong Bus manufacturer and Sindh government is going to start the $2 billion project of buses in order to meet the need of people of the province.
In this regard the company is producing 650 buses in the first phase, the company will bring a total of 6,000 buses in the province.
Sindh cities, particularly Karachi, is facing the worst situation of public transport; dilapidated roads, rusty vehicles and untrained staff compel people to make their own arrangements. In Karachi, two million cars and more than three million motorcycles will be running on Karachi roads by 2030 if Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system was not started, said urban transportation expert Malik Zaheerul Islam.
The Sindh government has offered the Malik Enterprise a place for the project in Special Economic Zone in Thatta, “the government has offered and assured us to provide all the facilities for the plant,” said Malik Enterprise limited owner Malik Khuda Buksh, while talking to Pakistan Today.
With the consent of the government, the company is going to import parts, assembling unit for the motor vehicle. It will also train people for the plant and build workshops and showrooms. “It’s a two billion dollar investment,” said Malik who is also Chairman of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) Standing Committee on “Foreign Investment” for 2017.
Initially, the Malik Enterprises, which has been in the business of Retail Outlets of Oil Marketing Companies since 1973, is going to import buses from China and then it will start a plant at the International Special Economic Zone in Thatta.
Malik Enterprises will set up bus assembling plant with the collaboration of Sindh government and Chinese company Sunlong Shanghai Bus which was established in 2004 and has the capacity to manufacture 10,000 buses per year.
They expect that along with the government, the private sector will also buy buses from them as the province is in dire need of buses.
Sunlong Shingai Buss produces mini buses, city buses and tourist buses.
“It’s a need of the time, people of Karachi travel on the roof of the buses.
“We have called a meeting today to discuss the matter with all stakeholders, including the private bus service provider,” said Malik Khuda Buksh.
