KARACHI, Nov 30: The city government will hold a symposium soon after Eidul Fitr to discuss the benefits of CNG buses as well as the urban transport scheme so as to make it more effective.
This was decided at a meeting which was convened to consider steps with regard to transfer of technology for the Chinese CNG buses and to seek the help of the city government in removal of bottlenecks in the this regard. City Nazim Naimatullah Khan presided over the meeting.
The Nazim was informed that the Automobile Corporation of Pakistan had entered into an agreement with a Chinese firm for transfer of CNG buses technology to Pakistan and work on this plan had started.
The Nazim appreciated the efforts of the China Automobile Works and said the operation of CNG buses in Karachi would help reduce environmental pollution.
He said it was a welcome news that the CNG buses would start plying during the next three months with the participation of the China Automobile Work.
It was pointed out that the China First Automobile Works has so much resources that, if the government provided facilities, it could overcome the transport problem in Karachi within two months in partnership with the Pakistani companies.
The representatives of foreign companies appreciated the efforts of the city government for the launch of the urban transport scheme.
The meeting considered a proposal that the city government should adopt a friendly policy and environment for the encouragement of investors, especially with reference to Chinese CNG and Swedish buses, so that these world-reputed companies could help in the improvement of transport system in Karachi.
Naimatullah Khan lamented that not a single new bus was brought to Karachi during the last 25 years and there was no clear transport policy for the city.
He pointed out that after coming to power the city government carried out a wide-ranging planning for transport sector and, hopefully, in a very short period the people of Karachi would start travelling in modern and comfortable buses.
Chairman Automobile Corporation of Pakistan, Mehtar Hussain; Managing-Director Khayyam Hussain; GM Marketing Imran Faimi, and Vice-President of China First Automobile Works, Yen Fing, and others attended the meeting.—APP