KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said the Karachi Circular Railway project had been approved by the Joint Working Group [JWG] of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor [CPEC], which, he said, was a big success of the people of Karachi.

“This is the result of the constant and sincere efforts of the provincial government,” claimed CM Shah while addressing a reception he hosted for the JWG on transport infrastructure at CM House.

“Today morning an important meeting of the transport infrastructure JWG of CPEC was held here and discussed all the three projects — the KCR, the Keti Bandar and the Special Economic Zone Dhabeji put up by Sindh government. The meeting participants approved the three important projects of the province and recommended the KCR to Joint Coordination Committee of CPEC for its implementation under the CPEC framework,” said Mr Shah.

However, the other two projects, also approved, would require certain formalities to complete before being implemented.

Mr Shah said the CPEC would help build a robust and stable economy in Sindh together with generating sound prospect for the province to revive and expand its road connectivity.

“This will foster a new era of connectivity and offer employment generation and decent mode of transportation,” he said.

He said a joint Cooperation Committee meeting on CPEC was held in Beijing, China on December 29, last year, wherein he along with a senior level delegation participated.

“We [Sindh government] proposed that the KCR, Keti Bandar and China Special Economic Zone Dhabeji may be undertaken for implementation in the CPEC, which were graciously included.”

The chief minister said the Sindh government was taking cognisance of the importance of the KCR, and had approved the feasibility and framework agreement, and shared it with the federal government to meet timelines for execution of the mega project at the earliest.

“The KCR is the integral part of the comprehensive Mass Transit System envisaged for this mega city,” he said, adding, there was a high public demand for the KCR with ample ridership of 700,000 per day.

“Karachi is among the most populated cities of the world and there will be ample returns on any investment made in the city in wider economic terms. These economic benefits included reduced vehicle operation cost and travel time cost,” he said.

CM Shah said: “We understand that a comprehensive mass transit system is the only solution to address the bourgeoning population of this mega city.” He added the Sindh government had started working on various Bus Rapid Transit [BRT] lines, which complemented the KCR and tried to reduce the misery of people.

“The investors are, therefore, invited to contribute in equity of KCR and other mass transit systems in Sindh.”

The chief minister said Sindh coastline was more than 300 kilometres long; it had two ports of Karachi and Bin Qasim. He added a new jetty at Keti Bandar would enhance the county’s capability to export coal with potential to develop it as a full port.

“Five million people living in the surrounding areas would directly benefit from it,” he said.

About the Special Economic Zone, he said Sindh had already established a few Special Economic Zones like Bin Qasim Industrial Park, Korangi Creek Industrial Park and Khairpur Special Economic Zone.

He added Dhabeji stretched over 1,000 acres and was about 55 kilometres from Karachi at the eastern alignment of CPEC. “It has commercial viability and development potential in the immediate terms,” he said.

He went on to say with the advent of manufacturing agro-based industry, it was believed that economic zone would bring prosperity for the growers of the province coupled with substantial increase in the production sector.

He said the CPEC would prove to be historic milestone in the history of Pakistan-China relations.

After thorough discussion, the provincial government officials said, the 5th Joint Working Group on transport infrastructure had approved and recommended the Revival of Karachi Circular Railway to the Joint Coordination Committee of CPEC for its implementation under the CPEC framework.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2017