IT is regrettable to know that work on Karachi’s mass transit system has been progressing at a snail’s pace. While Lahore has a mass transit system, as a former Karachiite I feel sorry that Pakistan’s biggest city should be without a modern state-run transport system.

It should be noted that the completion of the on-going bus project will not mean that Karachi will have a mass transit system. One or two elevated bus lines do not constitute a ‘system’. Let us note what a mass transit system is. It is a vast network of train lines – underground, over ground, elevated – besides surface trams and buses interlinked to each other.

Big cities like New York, Washington, Paris, London, Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, Istanbul, Cairo and others have vast networks of fast and comfortable trains and buses for their citizens. In London, Pakistan-born Mayor Sadiq Khan ordered that the ‘tube’ will run 24 hours.

If we want Karachi to have a mass transit ‘system’, then the current bus project should be considered a small part of a larger network of underground and over ground trains and a revival of the Karachi Circular Railway. The KCR has the potential to serve Karachi well if it is made a reality and further extended. I believe a train line must run from Pehlwan Chowrangi to collect passengers on University Road via Karachi and NED Universities. There is also a need for a trolley services within Karachi university campus for the benefit of students and faculty.

Besides, ‘normal’ buses should be introduced in Karachi. At present the city has rickety minibuses, besides some old buses with an atmosphere that suffocates passengers. There is no alternative to modern, comfortable buses whose quantity must be commensurate with Karachi’s needs.

The Lyari Expressway is an excellent piece of engineering. The completion of the north-bound track has served to lessen traffic congestion on Sharea Faisal, University Road, M. A. Jinnah Road and parts of Saddar. More such highways should be built.

Shafiq Talaat
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2018