Karachi remains trapped in a perpetual state of transport chaos thanks to a combination of poor governance, poor planning and political tribalism. The recent decision by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab to halt the Green Line project is unique in that it may count as an example of all three. Wahab has cited a bureaucratic dispute over a no-objection certificate (NOC) for his decision to shelve the project, which is being funded and developed by the federal government and foreign donors.
The NOC dispute hinges on the fact that the project is being built under a certificate granted in 2017, which Wahab is apparently refusing to recognise, saying it is too old. It is also worth noting that while the NOC was granted by an MQM-led local government, the PPP-led Sindh government did not try to block it, meaning that he is essentially undermining decisions taken by his own party’s former leaders.
The move is yet another example of how the PPP, despite controlling Sindh for 17 uninterrupted years, has not even been able to upgrade the city’s public transport system. There is confusion over what Wahab hopes to gain from shelving the project, since Islamabad could, in theory, force it through if necessary. As things stand, the only thing Wahab has accomplished is escalating the cost of the project, which will have to be borne by taxpayers across the country.
Meanwhile, Sindh’s own planners have to their credit the Orange Line, which is the shortest metro on the route and is operating at barely 10% of its average demand. The provincial government dumped billions into the project without properly connecting it to the rest of the city’s bus network, meaning that it is essentially only running on a four-kilometre closed route. But at least it has been completed, since the many other colour-coded lines are several years behind schedule. The provincial government’s partnership with the World Bank for a comprehensive transport master plan also rings hollow when existing projects are stalled or poorly implemented.
