The meeting was briefed about the ongoing development projects funded by the Centre and critical infrastructure projects that are required in Karachi, especially freight movement from the ports to upcountry to support local, national and transnational trade and facilitate business activities alongside easing passengers' movement.
The Prime Minister was told that work on Lyari Expressway was 97% complete, and its north-bound section would be operational by the end of 2017. On the K-4, the meeting was informed that the first phase of the project would be operative next year.
Abbasi stressed that all the stakeholders need to collaborate to simultaneously execute remaining phases of this project of public importance. On its part, the federal government has provided funding for the project; remaining bottlenecks should be removed through coordination, he asked.
The meeting was also apprised of progress on Green Line Bus service which is fully federal-funded project planned for mass transit corridor for transport infrastructure. It was informed that the project would be operative by the end of current financial year.
On the critical transport infrastructure projects for Karachi, the Prime Minister asked the concerned stakeholders at the local, provincial and federal levels to sit together and resolve issues for proceeding ahead to arrive at a well-coordinated plan of action.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair, Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Minister of State for Ports Ch Jafar Iqbal, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Sindh Chief Secretary, Chairman KPT, Chairman Port Qasim Authority and other senior government officials.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017