KARACHI: In a major move to overhaul the city’s mass transit, the Federal Minister for Railways and the Chief Minister of Sindh have officially agreed to revive the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and suburban train services. The decision was reached during a high-level meeting held at the CM House on Thursday.
Key Decisions and Infrastructure Development Regarding the expansion of the network, new train services will be launched from Karachi to Rohri and Karachi to Jacobabad via the Kotri, Dadu, and Larkana route. Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon announced that once KCR is operational, BRT buses will serve as a feeder service to provide seamless connectivity for commuters. In a significant breakthrough for local infrastructure, Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi directed the immediate issuance of an NOC for the Malir Halt underpass, a project previously stalled due to bureaucratic delays.
Urban Greening and Anti-Encroachment The two sides agreed on a “Green Corridor” initiative, which involves large-scale plantation along railway tracks to improve the environment and prevent illegal occupations. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah highlighted that these green belts would serve the dual purpose of environmental improvement and land protection.
“Railway land is a national asset, and its protection is mandatory. We are launching a strict operation against encroachments with the full support of the district administration,” stated Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi.
Modernization and Safety Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasized the urgency of affordable public transport, noting that high-risk railway crossings will be upgraded immediately to ensure public safety as a top priority. The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen the working relationship between the Federal and Provincial governments to modernize the transport system.
The Participants The provincial delegation included Ministers Sharjeel Memon and Nasir Hussain Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi. The Pakistan Railways delegation was led by Chairman Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, GM Hafeezullah, and DIG Munir Sheikh.
