KARACHI: The federal and provincial institutions concerned have agreed to work closely for expeditious progress of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) scheme and complete the “project of national importance” within shortest possible time.

The resolve emerged at a meeting held here on Saturday to discuss revival of KCR, which is with the planning and development department.

The meeting was attended by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman retired Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa, provincial Planning and Development Board chairman Mohammad Waseem, senior officials of the Pakistan Railways and Sindh government, Karachi commissioner and all deputy commissioners of the city.

“Improved coordination between federal and provincial governments for addressing KCR-related issues at the federal and provincial levels were discussed in detail,” said a statement issued after the meeting.

“Mr Waseem presented a comprehensive briefing with a background of KCR and the major steps required to expedite progress on the project. They included issues of sharing framework agreement, extending sovereign guarantee and request for concessional financing at federal level,” the statement said.

It said that the participants agreed that the project would be very helpful in boosting confidence of all stakeholders and giving thrust at ground level for joint efforts of federal and provincial entities.

Encroachments along KCR tracks have been removed significantly and there is a need for fencing the tracks for which Sindh government has earmarked sufficient resources and is eager to complete the task with the help of city administration, says the statement quoting Mr Waseem, who also highlighted strategic importance of KCR.

He said that KCR, complemented with the Bus Rapid Transit Projects (BRTs) of Karachi, was the linchpin for providing seamless connectivity between Port Qasim, National Highways, Special Economic Zones of Dhabeji, industrial hubs, residential districts, and downtown.

Gen Bajwa praised the Sindh government and assured his full cooperation and help in resolving issues at federal and provincial levels.

“He stressed the need for continuing with the momentum and work to realise this project of national importance. The meeting concluded with a very positive note that all stakeholders will work closely to expedite progress on KCR,” added the statement.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2020