KARACHI: Sindh govt to sign MoU with China: Mass-transit system
KARACHI, Aug 27: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Wednesday urged that minimum rate of fares and modern facilities for commuters should be ensured in all transport improvement programmes.
Presiding over a high-level meeting held to review the various aspects of Karachi’s Mass Transit System at the Governor’s House, Dr Ibad stressed the need for making travels comfortable and fast for citizens, keeping in view the limitations of low-income people.
Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkal Kazi, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Principal Secretary Brig Akhtar Zamin, DCO Karachi Mir Hussain Ali, Director General Karachi Mass Transit Cell Malik Zaheerul Islam, EDO Transport Dr Soomro and other officials attended the meeting.
The meeting decided to sign an MoU with China for Corridor-2, and in this regard a committee headed by the Sindh chief secretary and comprising city Nazim, principal secretary, secretary transport and other officials, was also formed. It will finalise the MoU draft within a week.
The 12-kilometre long Corridor-2 will start from Orangi Town and, passing through Mangopir, Aga Khan Road and Daud Pota Road, will end at Cantt Station.
The meeting was also informed of the details of Corridor-1, which will be 15.2-kilometre-long and will stretch from Sohrab Goth to Tower, and for which seven local and international companies have pre-qualified. This rail-based mass transit system includes light rail, mono rail and Maglev Train.
The meeting was told that the city government had issued TOR documents to the companies concerned to be submitted by October 30.
Later, the meeting deliberated on the proposal from a Chinese company for 200 140-seat buses and solid waste management.
POLYTHENE BAGS: The governor also presided over a meeting to review the situation arising out of the use of polythene bags and steps being undertaken for its control.
The governor stressed integrated efforts to control scattered polythene bags resulting in the choking of sewerage lines and filth.
The meeting decided to gear up the efforts for promoting alternatives for polythene bags. The meeting also deliberated on biodegradation and recycling of these bags, for use in furniture manufacturing. In this regard EPA and the city government were directed to come up with recommendations.—PPI
