Sindh Government and Federal Government has decided to start work on Karachi Circular Railway Project to provide modern transportation facilities to the people of Karachi: Qaim Ali Shah

Karachi, November 21, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that Sindh Government and Federal Government has decided to start work on the Karachi Circular Railway Project to provide modern, rapid and low cast transportation facilities to the people of Karachi which according to him was famous as mini Pakistan.

He said that a joint committee comprising on the representatives from Federal Government, Sindh Government and other stakeholders organization has been constituted to undertake the ground realities and make the field clear to start physical work.

This he said while talking to media men with Federal Minister Railways Khawja Saad Rafiq after holding a high-level meeting about implementation on the Karachi Circular Railway Project at CM House this evening.

He said that two major problems were identified as hurdle in implementation on this project, which includes encroachment on Railway land and Government land within operational area of the project and other settlement of TORs for foreign loans by Federal Government which was domain of Federal Government.

He said that due to lack of interest by the previous Federal Government the main donor agency Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) was discouraged one side and the activities of encroachment by land grabbers remain intact on other side.

He said that this government was keen to start this project at any cost as it was the need of the Karachi citizens. He said that keeping in mind the difficulties of the people of Karachi, he requested to Prime Minister of Pakistan for extending help for the assignment on part of Federal Government during his last visit at Karachi and added that I am thankful to Prime Minister, who without taking time sent Khuwaja Saad Rafique for this assignment.

He said that today we had a meeting with facility of experts from Federal and Provincial Government, discussed the project in detail and had taken decision that Federal Government and Provincial Government to resolve the bottleneck on their part with immediate effect.

He said that his Government initiating the step has formed an anti-encroachment task force (AETF) headed by Inspector General of Sindh Police which also be represented by I-G Railway Police, and other stakeholder organizations.

He said that this task force after conducting the field survey to prepare strategy in such a way so that without any loss or law and order situation we to get Railway Land evacuated from land grabbers and start work. He said that his government has also planned to ply 200 new buses on the different routs of Karachi to ensure competitive but low cost communication facilities to the people of Karachi.

The Federal Minister for Railway Khuwaja Saad Rafique, while eulogizing the service of PPP and Syed Qaim Ali Shah rendered for restoration of the democracy, said that he welcomed the Sindh Government for taking initiative steps for implementation of Karachi Circular Railway Project and assured that Federal Government to extend its all facilities and help in completing this project in the dynamic leadership of Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

He said that we must have to fill the gap of trust deficit created due to the fault by previous govt by initiating the work on the site. He said that so far the development works for the nation are concern, the Federal Government and Sindh government were on one page.

He said that removal of encroachment was very much essential before launching the project work and added that it has been decided in the meeting held today at CM House that this hurdle be removal on 1st priority basis. Responding to the question about any eventuality of law and order while removing encroachment , the Federal Minister Railway lauded the efforts of Sindh Government and Syed Qaim Ali Shah for controlling over Law and Order through targeted operation against criminals and said that he was optimist that this would be controlled administratively, beside a strategy would be evolved in such a way so that this matter not arise.

The Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while responding supplementary question in this regard said that Sindh Government to consider for providing substitute land to those who are very poor and helpless families but those who had occupied land with commercial intention would have to face the masic. Responding another question both leaders has said that defiantly MQM would is being taken on board.

The Chief Minister Sindh said that he discussed this project with Prime Minister in the presence of Governor Sindh. Earlier while addressing the high level meeting about implementation on the Karachi Circular Railway the CM Sindh re affirmed the Karachi Circular Railway Project was very much important for the people of Karachi and it would be completed at any cost.

He said that the Financing offer of JICA was still workable and we want to avail this opportunity of loan at cheapest rate of 1% despite of having such offers from other organization. Addressing the meeting the Federal Minister Khuwaja Saad Rafique said that the trust deficit that created between stakeholder of this project due to mistakes of previous Govt is suppose to be removed by Federal and Provincial Government by starting the work on the project. He said that we have now decided to start and complete this project as soon as possible.

He said that today we have discussed with Sindh Government for removal of encroachment, clearing the site for work. During the deliberation the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah while accepting the demand of representatives of JICA assured him for withdrawal of leavy of provincial tax on the loaning amount for this project. He said that this matter to be resolved in next meeting of cabinet.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Allah Bachayo Memon
Press Secretary
Chief Minister House
Tel: +9221 99202019
Cell: +92300-3524057 (Ext: 336)