KARACHI: SHC seeks statement on rickshaws’ phasing out
By Shujaat Ali Khan
KARACHI, Sept 26: The Sindh High Court asked the advocate-general on Tuesday to file a comprehensive policy statement on phasing out rickshaws and other vehicles emitting smoke and creating noise pollution and shifting bus stands from within the city.
An SHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Yasmeen Abbasy issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by Advocate Islam Hussain in February 2004.
Traffic police deputy inspector-general Falak Khurshid filed his statement with respect to the registration of vehicles as directed by the court on the previous date.
According to the statement, there were 809 registered commercial vehicles in July, 724 in August and 226 in September. Eighty-one, 61 and two mini-buses were registered in July, August and September.
No bus or two-stroke rickshaw was registered during the three-month period, the statement said.
After perusal of the statement, the bench asked the DIG to submit an explanation whether the figures represent the total number of registered vehicles or the number of vehicles registered in the three-month period in addition to the vehicles already registered.
AG Anwar Mansoor Khan was asked to file a comprehensive policy statement in this regard.
Represented by Advocate M. Ilyas Khan, rickshaw owners and drivers submitted that they earned their livelihood by plying rickshaws and should be provided alternative sources of income before a complete ban on their vehicles.
They said CNG kits should also be fitted in their vehicles at the government expense. The AG pointed out that the recently-launched ‘rozgar scheme’ should be availed by them instead of burdening the public exchequer.
CDG PROJECT: Advocate Manzoor Ahmed earlier produced a report on a Rs4.5 billion project prepared by the city district government of Karachi and approved by central development working party (CDWP). The project is pending with the federal planning and development division.
The project envisages an addition of 2,825 large CNG buses and 910 feeder buses during its first three years under private-public partnership to solve the transport problem in an environment-friendly manner. The CDGK was also exploring the possibility of international and local funding its transport scheme.
As regards the project for a mass-transit corridor from Sohrab Goth to Merewhether Tower, only one bidder, M/s Infrastructure Development Company, has come forward o submit tenders on a build-operate-transfer basis.
The city nazim has approached the prime minister to constitute a broad-based steering committee to consider the concessions and guarantees sought by the sole bidder.
As for mass-transit Corridor-II (from Orangi to the Cantt railway station), the CDGK has invited ‘expression of interest’ for pre-qualification of bidders.
The federal, provincial and city district governments, the report said, were, meanwhile, making efforts to revive the Karachi circular railway.
The project has already been approved by the central development working party.
A soft-term Japanese loan is likely to provide the necessary funding.
The hearing was adjourned to Oct 31. Advocate Khalid Jawed Khan was asked to assist the court as amicus curiae.
