Farooqi said that the Rs 16 billion Greenline bus project, which would be funded by the federal government, was scheduled to be launched by the premier in January. Elaborating the details, he said that the project would cover 17km from Surjani to Gurumandir, and facilitate 0.3 million commuters.
He said that Sindh government was also going to implement its mass transit project, evolved by JICA, by initiating three transport projects - Orangeline, Redline and Yellowline bus services this year. Earlier, speaking at the ceremony, Farooqi lauded the efforts of NOWPDP towards initiating tricycle project and hoped that it would turn into reality. He also invited suggestions from NOWPDP for ensuring better life to the disabled persons.
He said that he was ready to play his role by taking the administrator Karachi and Sindh works and services department on board to establish designated footpaths, ramps and lanes for persons with disabilities. Speaking on the occasion, Amin Hashwani said that NOWPDP had been working on this important cause for the last eight years. He said that the persons were not disabled because they did not have a normal body structure but we as society compelled them to realise that they were the persons with disabilities. He further said that we as society had a responsibility to own these disabled persons and give them confidence to lead a normal life.
"NOWPDP has a philosophy that people with disabilities are integral part of the society and have the right to equal opportunity of education, employment and accessibility," he added. Moreover, Hashwani said that NOWPDP was working on three projects - The Rickshaw, Yaqeen and Heartwork and the launch of 'Accessible Cycle Design Challenge' was a part of the Rickshaw project.
Amin Andani, Program Manager, The Rickshaw Project, elaborated on the Design Challenge and said that "global accessibility experts belonging to prestigious institutes such as MIT and Stanford University are part of this challenge as jury members and it is an excellent opportunity for Pakistanis to design a cycle that can impact millions of lives."
He said that this nation-wide challenge, running from January to March 31, 2016, was aimed at identifying the most accessible and affordable cycle design that enhances the mobility of people with lower-limb impairments and would reward the winner with Rs 200,000. The event was also attended by Dr Amir Sheikh, DIG Traffic, Khayam Hussain, CEO Automobile Corporation of Pakistan and Shahid Abdulla, Principal Architect - Arshad Shahid Abdulla.