Sunday, the first consignment of 40 buses for the Green Line bus rapid transit system (BRTS) reached Karachi. With the BRTS, residents of Karachi will soon see a modern technology-based transport system, something which PPP failed to provide in all its years of governance.
In contrast, under PM Khan’s leadership, the promised buses arrived in a timely manner. They will serve some of Karachi’s most populated areas, covering Surjani Town to Gurumandir and Numaish Chowrangi in phase 1.
Read more: #PTIOwnsKarachi trends as PM Khan delivers his promise!
Addressing the ceremony of the arrival of the buses, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said that 40 more buses will reach Karachi next month.
مبارک ہو کراچی. اس شہر کے پہلے جدید ٹرانسپورٹ نظام گرین لائن کے لئے 40 بسوں کی پہلی کھیپ کراچی پورٹ پہنچ گئی. انشاءاللہ 40 مزید بسیں اکتوبر کے آخر تک پہنچ جائیں گی. گرین لائن کا ٹیسٹ رن اکتوبر کے آخر تک اور کمرشل آپریشن نومبر کے آخر تک متوقع. pic.twitter.com/kQlccfvHu6
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) September 19, 2021
Asad Umar also said the Green Line BRTS comprised a 22-kilometer dedicated corridor aimed at providing easier mobility. It will cater to the travel needs of 135,000 passengers per day.
He told the event that the government established a comprehensive Command and Control Centre for transport projects including Green Line, Orange Line, and others. Also, it built a bus depot for 80 buses, with 22 bus stations constructed.
“For the first time, we are bringing a modern transport system in Karachi,” the federal minister said, regretting that the megacity that paid the most taxes had been deprived of modern transport in the past.
Read more: 40 Green Line buses depart from China for Karachi!
How the Sindh Government failed Karachi
Interesting to note, while the PTI government delivered on its promise for BRTS, the Sindh government’s Orange Line project is in shambles.
Inaugurated in 2016, the Orange Line, also known as Abdul Sattar Edhi Line, will cover a distance of 3.4 km from the Board Office to Gulshan-e-Zia. However, construction is still not complete. In fact, the project is in various stages of decay.
Taking to Twitter, prominent PTI politician Samir Mir Shaikh highlighted the devastating condition of the Orange Line Bus. In a video post, he showed how sewage water drowned the construction site for the bus.
As Orange Line has the shortest route, according to Samir Mir Shaikh, it is shameful that the Sindh government could not even complete a project of less than 4km.
This is Sindh Govt’s 4km Orange LineProject inaugurated in 2016 with cost of 3Billion. Today this project is in shambles.
In 13yrs #PPP couldn’t give Sindh 1 Bus, while today 40 #GreenLine buses by PTI Federal Govt arrive in Karachi. #KarachiTransformationPlan #PTIOwnsKarachi pic.twitter.com/wmg1NXIWPt— Samir Mir Shaikh (@SamirMir) September 19, 2021
Moreover, he reiterated the Sindh government’s failure to take concrete measures in the province, despite 13 years of governance.
Read more: Can PTI dethrone PPP from Sindh government?
PTI taking credit for PML-N’s work?
While PTI receives appreciation for delivering promises, PML-N on the other hand, firmly maintains that all credit for such projects goes to Nawaz Sharif.
Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the incumbent PTI government took credit for projects launched by the PML-N government.
Talking to the media in Karachi, the PML-N leader criticized the PTI govt for taking credit for Karachi’s Green Line project that was started in the tenure of the PML-N government.
“Nawaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking of Green Line project in Karachi,” Shahid Khaqan said.
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It is indeed true that PML-N set the precedent for such a modernized transport system in Pakistan. However, the PTI government is just making sure that Sindh, which is a victim of neglect, also benefits from such initiatives.