KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, said Sunday that the provincial government, with World Bank support, is expediting work on the Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Construction of depots and related facilities is in progress, while the Senator Taj Haider Bridge, a key component of the project, is in its final stages and will be completed within a week.
Memon reviewed the bridge’s construction during a visit alongside Transport Secretary Asad Zamin and Yellow Line BRT Project Director Zameer Abbasi. Speaking to media, he reaffirmed the Sindh government’s commitment to providing Karachiites with modern travel facilities.
The minister announced that this week the government will distribute “Pink Scooters” free of cost to women, aimed at easing their travel needs. He also said a fleet of double-decker and electric buses would be added to Karachi’s transport system in the coming weeks.
Highlighting outcomes of President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to China, Memon said talks were held on setting up manufacturing plants in Sindh for electric and conventional buses, a step that will not only improve public transport but also create employment opportunities. He added that Chinese investors have shown strong interest in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, where new industries will be launched to generate jobs for youth.
Addressing project delays, Memon admitted that large infrastructure schemes often face hurdles such as utility transfers. The Red Line BRT project, he noted, was also delayed by demands from PTCL and K-Electric. He said the government is in talks with these institutions and directed the Transport Secretary to resolve the current dispute with K-Electric within 24 hours.
The minister further announced that once the Taj Haider Bridge is inaugurated, the Jam Sadiq Bridge will be demolished and rebuilt with modern features, including separate tracks for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
Commenting on security issues, Memon said the government had swiftly responded to the attack on journalist Imtiaz Mir, with a case being registered and assurances that the culprits will be arrested. He also condemned the recent murders of three transgender persons, calling them isolated incidents under active investigation, and promised strict action against perpetrators.
On the economic front, Memon criticized the federal wheat policy, stating that Pakistan would not be forced to spend billions on wheat imports if farmers had been given a support price, as suggested by President Zardari. He stressed that Sindh still holds 1.2 million tons of wheat, but the federal government has not agreed to purchase it at fair rates. Supporting farmers, he said, is the only sustainable way to strengthen the national economy.
He also contrasted Sindh’s handling of recent floods with Punjab’s, saying that better planning in Sindh, including direct monitoring by the Chief Minister and a control room, helped reduce losses. By contrast, he argued, Punjab’s inexperience led to greater destruction.
Calling for national unity, Memon regretted the use of inappropriate language by a journalist from Punjab, stressing that while policies may be debated, no community should be maligned. He said the immediate priority should be assisting flood victims rather than engaging in divisive political disputes.
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