KARACHI: Nazim offers concessions to transport firms: New CNG buses launched
KARACHI, April 24: Mentioning that Karachi required 10,000 environment-friendly CNG buses, City Nazim Niamatullah Khan said all possible facilities would be provided to companies and transporters bringing in these buses. He allured transport companies of considering giving them exemptions from import duty and offering concessions.
Mr Niamat said this as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of new CNG buses of Euro-2 and Euro-3 technology of the Home Land Transport Company on Sunday.
He also launched nine new CNG buses at the Khalid Bin Walid Road, later driving in one such bus through various city roads. Each of these buses has a capacity of 70 passengers.
The inaugural function was also attended by Chinese Commercial Consul Zhao Qing Mao, Chief Executive of the concerned transport company Nazir Haji Usman, DO Public Transport and Management Operation Mohammed Athar, Adviser to City Nazim Mohammed Tufail, Secretary RTA Shamim Akhtar and officials of the transport department besides transporters.
Mr Niamat pointed out that environmental- and noise pollutions were growing in Karachi, giving rise to diseases, while mentioning that 15-20 years old buses were running on the city roads.
Citing the example of a decision given by the Delhi High Court, as a result of which CNG-operated buses and rickshaws were now running there, he said: “There is a need to take such a decision in Karachi as well.”
He observed that large scale violations were being committed in the transport sector, referring to the playing of songs in buses, minibuses and coaches; men travelling in women’s compartments; open doors; and other irregularities, adding that many problems were confronted in the process of checking these.
He said the city government had introduced the Urban Transport Scheme and gave concessions and incentives to transporters, but not too many CNG buses were brought on roads.
He also called for an effective system of importing spare parts of CNG buses.
Mr Niamat said in order to provide better commuting facilities, the city government was also bringing in the mass transit system side by side the Karachi circular railway.
He suggested Chinese companies to consider running CNG buses in Karachi, saying they would be given due concessions.
The nazim said the city government would also examine offers for running 10,000 CNG buses in Karachi on built, operate, own (BOO), and built, operate, transfer (BOT) bases.
Zhao Qing, the Chinese Commercial Consul, hoped that Chinese CNG buses would be operated in Karachi in the future.
Nazir Haji Usman on the occasion said the new buses would provide relief to people.
Speakers also called for doing away with the import duty and tax on new CNG buses.
LIONS’ ENCLAVE: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, laid the foundation stone for a lion enclave at the Safari Park on Saturday night. Covering an area of four acres, the enclave will house three pairs of lions and would be completed in six months at a cost of Rs10 million.
Competitions of qirat, naat and colouring of picture sketches were also held among children on the occasion.
A large number of children and their parents drove in coaches through the open area where some 600 species of animals are living in an open environment.
The children saw animals and birds and filled colours in their picture sketches. Mr Niamat later distributed prizes among the children.
The children presented the nazim with a bouquet.—APP
KARACHI, April 24: Mentioning that Karachi required 10,000 environment-friendly CNG buses, City Nazim Niamatullah Khan said all possible facilities would be provided to companies and transporters bringing in these buses. He allured transport companies of considering giving them exemptions from import duty and offering concessions.