KARACHI, Dec 3: The City Government, under the Urban Transport Scheme, has issued registration notification documents to 14 well-known companies allowing them to run modernized and heavy-duty vans in the city.

The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, handed over the documents to the representatives of these companies at a meeting held in the committee room at Civic Centre on Tuesday.

According to a press release, the documents were handed over to the nominees of Daewoo Pakistan, Express B Service, World Weighted Motor Private Ltd., Allied Urban Transport, Waqar Enterprises, Kumharson Service, Green Bus Company, Alaziz Road Transport Company, Mehmood Transport/Inland Express Group, Gul Enterprises International, Rawalpindi Coach, Pearl Transport Service, Blue Line, Eight Transport Service and Altaf Tarikh.

The companies will bring to the city roads 695 large vans in the first phase during this month while 1,800 large buses will be brought during the year 2004 in the second phase.

According to the agreement, every company will have to run 25 buses each and no route permit will be granted to those having run a lesser number.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nazim said that 18 routes had been allotted under the UTS scheme. The companies interested in establishing new terminals would be facilitated with BOT and new agreements would be signed with them under BOT.

He said that the federal government would be requested to grant tax relief to the investors, engaged in this scheme, and the bus operators running their vehicles in Sindh.—PPI