Karachi needs 8,000 new buses to ease transport woes, CM told

E-Paper | July 29, 2026

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday decided to give Rs2 billion subsidy to transporters to launch a fleet of 600 vehicles to meet the growing requirement of quality passenger buses in the city.

He took the decision at a meeting on intra-city and intercity bus services at the CM House.

Transport Minister Nasir Shah said that Karachi needed at least 8,000 buses. He recommended to the CM a new mechanism to add at least 600 large buses in the public transport system to meet minimum requirement of the city.

He said it would be effectively supported by the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system, which was about to be launched.

The chief minister has approved Rs2bn subsidy for transporters

CM Shah said his government would assist transporters in the form of a subsidy for a period of five years.

“The government will provide a subsidy of Rs2bn, which would be placed with the Sindh Modaraba, before the publication of an advertisement,” he said, adding that the equity-debt ratio would be 70:30.

The transporters’ equity would be 15 per cent and the Sindh government would contribute a similar amount in the shape of interest-free loans, repayable by the transporters within a year of the completion of the loan to the Sindh Modaraba Limited, he added.

The chief minister said the government would also provide 30pc credit risk guarantee for the outstanding principal loan amount, excluding the Sindh government equity.

The transport department also proposed to start an intercity project under the same mechanism as the intra-city project. Under the proposal, the Sindh government would bear the cost of insurance of a vehicle, which would be insured through the Sindh Insurance Ltd and that would be around 5pc of the value of the vehicle.

CM Shah said only locally assembled vehicles would be financed. It was also proposed that if a transporter managed to repay all instalments in time, maintained the vehicle in roadworthy condition and otherwise fulfilled all obligations, the Sindh government would waive its portion of the cost of 15pc.

Blue Line project

In his presentation on the Blue Line project, the transport minister said its route would be from Al Asif Square (Sohrab Goth) to Golimar. It would be a 12-kilometre-long route of which 6.6km would be elevated. The project would have nine stations, five of them would be elevated and three at grade. There would be a ridership of 375,000 daily.

Transport Secretary Taha Farooqui said the route would start from Al Asif Square via Yousuf Plaza, Naseerabad, Ayesha Manzil, Karimabad, Liaquatabad, Dak Khana, Teen Hatti and Gurumandir.

Mr Shah said better transport services were long overdue for Karachi where hardships for commuters were on the rise requiring the government to be focused on improving such facilities, which would also uplift its overall image.

The chief minister asked the transport department to fulfil all the requirements to launch such projects as soon as possible. The Sindh government would assist the transporters financially and administratively, he said.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2017

Pakistan

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Transport plans for Karachi

Alba

Mar 30, 2017 10:05am

eventually additional sales taxes will be needed to help solve the transportation crunch. People have to find jobs and go to work. They cannot do that without ways to reach work. Without ways to look for work. More workers. More shopping. More sales tax revenues. A new transit system. People driving cars could be taxed more to get old cars off the roads and out of their way. No additional taxes on motorcycles would be an incentive to use motorbikes in warmer weather.

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Alba

Mar 30, 2017 10:07am

"Karachi needs 8,000 new buses to ease transport woes, CM told." Karachi needs a lot of improvements.

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TAriq

Mar 30, 2017 10:06am

You urban planner specially in filed of transportation. Trains are cheapest and most commonly used mode of transportation. These metro buses and other means aren't the solution. Don't make city jungle. Stress should be made to uses efficient and fast train tracks around the cities.

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SID

Mar 30, 2017 10:14am

I thought Mumbai local train is worst . It seems like Karachi transport will exceed Mumbai woes ..

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krishankant

Mar 30, 2017 10:20am

Better pressurize government to take care of own citizens first and then sing Kashmiri song.

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Abdul Raheem

Mar 30, 2017 10:26am

Sindh government is so dumb they are talking about the blue line but they haven't yet completed orange line route, which is the easiest and the shortest of all metro routes in Pakistan. Federal govt green line construction and Sindh govt's orange line construction started around the same time. It looks like federal govt green line will be completed before the orange line, though the orange line is at-least three times shorter than the green line. I am a Karachiite and I will be voting for Nawaz Sharif in the next election. The only criteria for me of vote is development.

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Mar 30, 2017 10:29am

These local busses doesnt suite Karachi and rude conductors.

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The end is near

Mar 30, 2017 10:38am

In reality, nothing happens. These are just political marketing tactics and tools they use before elections to impress the people in order to finally get their votes.

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IMTIAZ ALI

Mar 30, 2017 10:47am

My friend had been in Delhi last year...their transport system is robust with Metro trains connecting entire Delhi...and here in Karachi, v r still struggling with buses...high time v take clues from our neighbour on infrastructure system

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NKAli

Mar 30, 2017 10:50am

What happened to the Green CNG buses started by Mustafa Kamal, ex-Nazim of Karachi? Lost and decayed in the hatred of what he started. Where is the Karachi Circular Railway? It does not get off the planning stage because the transport mafia and corrupt bureaucrats make 'big talk with no show.' These are useless stop-gap measures and a permanent solution. We need to train policemen in traffic control, issue tickets for fines, control over-speeding, train drivers before issuing licenses, and have a uniform color and bus numbers clearly mentioned on top of the chassis. Karachi has deliberately been made a mess so that 'loot and scoot' can be played. Wasting money is our favorite pastime. Salams

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N.S

Mar 30, 2017 10:58am

It should be a transport mix as this will give huge relief to Karachites. 1) Revive circular railway, lucky to have the circular railway tracks need the local trains up and running, Japan is ready to finance it with 0.1% mark up rate. 2) Yes 8000 buses will ease out the public transport problem to quite an extent, good to incorporate local transporters as they will not be out of business. 3) BRTS will serve to add to the mass transit system but Karachi spread is so huge that one or two corridors is not sufficient. The BRTS plans are for five corridors in Karachi, but they require a lot of capital and not worth the money and effort.

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Fayaz ali

Mar 30, 2017 11:09am

I don't understand the what policy Of CM, where there is need of subsidy he don't gives, there is alot of buses but the transporter don't uses. order the transporter! Passenger should seat by seat.

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ahmed raza

Mar 30, 2017 11:11am

Makes the good policy for local passenger.

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Armchair revolutionary

Mar 30, 2017 11:12am

Karachi needs overhead mono-train, which is a cheaper and quicker solution to transport woes of the city of over 20 million people.

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Ashraf Usman

Mar 30, 2017 11:25am

Stupidity at its height. Where are roads to accommodate these 8000 buses. Why do not they restart the circular railway on its existing rails? it will reduce the congestion on the roads. There is still a live railway from Bin Qasim to Shershah.

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N.S

Mar 30, 2017 11:36am

@IMTIAZ ALI Delhi is capital city of India and cash rich Indian government is spending in Delhi, Karachi has no such privilege nor the government has the money...but with political will that can be reversed. As for Delhi Metro , out of 2 new lines and 11 route extensions proposed for Phase III, cabinet approved for 2 new lines and 10 route extensions totalling 167.27 km, with an estimated cost of ₹350 billion (US$5.2 billion). It's very expensive if you add the earlier cost incurred as well.

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sodawaterbottleopenerwala

Mar 30, 2017 11:39am

@SID bombay has monorail and metro too ,work in progress at poona,nagpur and thane .elevated rail for western bombay started .dedicated freight lanes for goods completed . think before comparing the two , friend.total work worth 55 000 crore inr.

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zeeshandxb

Mar 30, 2017 11:52am

metro train is a vital requirement at this point in karachi. Buses will further clog the roads which aren't wide enough to cater to the cars on roads in addition to the thousands that are being added every month. secondly bus and transportation services need not be outsourced to transporters. this will be fatal.

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Mar 30, 2017 11:56am

Traffic police is corrupt, city police is corrupt, every project you invest is to do one thing only, Corruption! Has all the development budget been spent on Karachi and Sindh, it would have certainly been looking better than Punjab. But alas, they only start project to do corruption. Shame on PPP and PMLN.

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Maxx

Mar 30, 2017 11:57am

@sodawaterbottleopenerwala Mumbai Monorail loses Rs 8.5 lakh every day as only 16,000 people regularly use Wadala-Chembur service, termed by some as a transit system to nowhere. So it is just an extravagant useless project implemented without any planning and to earn commissions.

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Raza

Mar 30, 2017 12:14pm

worst transport system and worst implementation of traffic laws as compare to other major cities of world. PPP govt has done nothing for the province.

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amumiya

Mar 30, 2017 12:15pm

@SID ,how do you compare mumbai with karachi, the 2017 budget of mumbai is 6 billion us dollars . karachi budget is 890 crore pkr roughly 85 million dollars .still at par with mumbai.

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Kashif Malik

Mar 30, 2017 12:40pm

Are the roads of Karachi able to host such number of additional buses?

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Devendra G

Mar 30, 2017 12:41pm

@Maxx It is not upto Wadala only ....!! It is the best project for Mumbai which has otherwise lot of traffic on the road. Rail track will go further and initial losses are unavoidable if your intentions primarily is to serve the public Sir ...comments are based on old facts ...New Residential properties are developing in the entire area covered by Monorail from Wadala to Dadar; if you have visited you should have known this also .So future residential development is also kept in mind. Don't dig the well after the house is on fire !!

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SID

Mar 30, 2017 12:49pm

@amumiya I m talking about notorious local train rush of Mumbai. Karachi seems to have worse public transport infrastructure .

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Maxx

Mar 30, 2017 12:50pm

@amumiya The KMC budget for Karachi last year was 33 billion Rs. that comes to 3300 crores. KDA, KWSB and city government has separate budget, so it is many times more. So your figure about 890 crore is incorrect.

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SID

Mar 30, 2017 12:54pm

@sodawaterbottleopenerwala Yes i know about these projects. However i m talking about present available infrastructure ( not the planned one ) . Of-course Mumbai public infrastructure will see sea of change in next decade . New Airport, 22 km sea link project , metro train expansion ..lot are in pipeline.

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M.Saeed

Mar 30, 2017 12:54pm

Better still is in making a new Karachi about 150 kms to the East and shifting all the expansion. There is a vast Korangi like land lying unused there and waiting for its development.

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sodawaterbottleopenerwala

Mar 30, 2017 12:58pm

@Maxx bombay residents at least have a choice of metro ,mono etc, its better than horses and mules . .

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Mar 30, 2017 01:01pm

@Abdul Raheem then you should consider IK for developement projects not only on but also in police, education, electricity, health etc.KPK is leading just checkhis fb pages.

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N.S

Mar 30, 2017 01:05pm

@SID Here you can see the updated pictures of Karachi city and its expanse. Lot of colonial buildings and new architecture with similarities to Mumbai. Yes Public transport in Mumbai is definitely better. In Karachi people tend to prefer bungalows over apartments, though there are a lot of apartments as well. Check the pictures below... http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=586989&page=444

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vikas

Mar 30, 2017 01:07pm

@Tariq, you are correct that trains are more efficient in mass transportation. But Pakistan has chosen Metro buses over trains for a simple reason. Buses run on diesel. You import it, you got it. Trains run on Electricity. Electricity is a scarce commodity in Pakistan. For running the trains massive load shedding will have to be resorted to.

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sodawaterbottleopenerwala

Mar 30, 2017 01:15pm

@N.S thanks for link ,however , now it seems even new mumbai has better infra than karachi ,actually its injustice to compare since mumbai is capital of maharashtra ,just one state having GDP more and bigger than GDP of pakistan .330 billiom vs 270 billion a part of mumbai , the bandra kurla complex is more state of art than karachi even .

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sodawaterbottleopenerwala

Mar 30, 2017 01:23pm

@N.S before you judge me allow me to also confess islamabad is better and charmingly beautiful,clean,pollution free than delhi .beyond doubt the princess of all capitals n asia .

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Just Someone

Mar 30, 2017 02:04pm

"CM Shah said only locally assembled vehicles would be financed." This is very important.

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daniyal khan uk

Mar 30, 2017 02:12pm

CM and Nasir both are from interior Sindh please u/stand need of Karachi, atleast start Circular Railway as soon as possible, understand karachi transport mafia, let start circular, than buses. circular train should start within 3 months if these Government is honest with Karachi and Si ndh.

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N.S

Mar 30, 2017 02:17pm

@sodawaterbottleopenerwala Right...here you can see the new city emerging, 18 Km from Karachi, called Bahria Town, Karachi. There is another self sustaining city DHA city coming near Karachi. Check the link below...very well planned and good infra and proper waste disposal and collection system. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1661404&page=53

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sodawaterbottleopenerwala

Mar 30, 2017 02:39pm

@N.S also chapal skymark karachi .good one .googled for it

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Mar 30, 2017 02:43pm

There is no better mode than metro train for large population like Karachi. All other are very short term and meaningless

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Mar 30, 2017 02:43pm

@Armchair revolutionary Mono rail carries 100 or 150 passengers and is not so useful my friend.

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sodawaterbottleopenerwala

Mar 30, 2017 02:55pm

@MG mono carries 4 coaches and 560 passengers sirji .

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sodawaterbottleopenerwala

Mar 30, 2017 03:06pm

@N.S we both countries should invest in hyperloop of elon musk ,west will envy us for next 10 decades to come .insular and elated as i may sound but lets be future conscious matey .

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Dr. MALARIA, AARYU mad

Mar 30, 2017 03:28pm

8,000 buses is a lot of buses. Does Pakistan not manufacture its own buses??

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asad

Mar 30, 2017 04:26pm

Just one thing to say Feudal is Feudal whether literate or illiterate.

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iffi

Mar 30, 2017 04:39pm

People plz reconsider your priorities & select a sincere & honest leader like IK .... otherwise no hope from current corrupt leaders

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asad

Mar 30, 2017 04:47pm

@iffi IK is least famous in Karachi after branding karachites with Zinda Lashain.

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Dr. MALARIA, AARYU mad

Mar 30, 2017 04:47pm

@Armchair revolutionary : Karachi population is 27 million. You need good and planned transportation. Only patch work can be done now.. Both Military and civil Govt are to blame.. Priorities were not right..

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Pragmatic approach

Mar 30, 2017 05:10pm

What about the bumpy broken bad roads on which these buses to run,and what about the bumper to bumper tortoise speed traffic and inept traffic police more interested in greasing their palms from less privileged commuters. Karachi a gigantic tsunami spreading mega city,needs better brains to look after its civic socio economy social welfare problems for huge multi linguistic multi ethnic peace living people. Karachi has huge plethora of problems & shortcomings,although Karachi is also a most caring city for poor and peasants,and Organisations like Edhi Foundations,Saylanis,and free food centers by property magnate Riaz Mullick Sahab,and several other social welfare are performing the most merciful and salvation duties. Karachi a people of thoughtful educated guys, have much better qualities of pre- empt understandings of farce and false slogans delivered in political speeches by feudals or so called raw minded political leaders,they come they delivered rosy speeches and gone.

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Mar 30, 2017 05:13pm

Reduce your armed forces budget and buy the buses immediately. Citizens welfare is priority

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Pragmatic approach

Mar 30, 2017 05:36pm

@N.S .Beyond the buses subject, there's a critical problem of drug addicts,powder addicts,hashish & heroin addicts,and intravenous drug scenes often seen near slums & ghettos, and around Civil & Jinnah Hospitals .The dirty rotten wearing addicts with gummed hairs,sick appearance,sometimes begging for help.The attitude of people is hateful towards these addicts and they are badly asked to go away.The NGOs and social welfare organizations may spare some of their time to rehabilitate these unlucky species of humans, because the rich well to do,arrogant,MPAs or MNAs have no time or interest,beyond their materialistic and mean thoughts of having latest model of Land Cruisers,and exorcist sounds of sirens of their shaming protocol. All these attitudes on tax payers money. The Trade Organizations and Trade Industry Federations,must join and take a firm stand,and create a audit team to gather information,keep a close watch,and monitor,what the hell is going on with their hard earned tax money.

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Absolute

Mar 30, 2017 07:11pm

@NKAli Green Buses were started by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan ... in fact it looses it's charm in the tenure of Mustafa Kamal.

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fus

Mar 30, 2017 08:00pm

@Absolute - Far from truth actually, Naimat ullah Sahab may have also planned for it but it was actually implemented by Mustafa Kamal when Sindh and Federal govt were found dragging their feet on Mass Transit project. It was done in last few years of city govt., after local govt. ended the PPP govt did what they are best in doing, converting KHI into Mohin-jo-Daro

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anony

Mar 30, 2017 09:23pm

We don't need more vehicles on the roads in Karachi. What we need is a intra-city metro/train system, along with wider roads.

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MUHAMMAD

Mar 30, 2017 10:58pm

more buses is the last thing Karachi's already overburdened roads need. Karachi needs a proper subway tube system of mass transit but alas who will listen?

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