ISLAMABAD: A plan has been devised to execute the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

A meeting, held here on Monday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair, discussed reforms in Pakistan Railways, the KCR project and Railways Green Initiative.

The prime minister was informed that a project of freight train for Karachi and Lahore was being considered under which the railway track will be linked with Karachi seaport.

The meeting was apprised that a plan had been devised to execute the KCR project on BOT basis and a consultant had been hired for technical designing and preparing its financial model in 30 days.

Mr Khan was informed that work was under progress for bringing reforms to Pakistan Railways with the involvement of private sector and automation was also being introduced.

The meeting was told that four trains had been privatised and 15 more would be given to the private sector soon. The PM was also briefed on the Main Line-1 project.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2021