Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting to assess progress on various upcoming projects aimed at enhancing transportation and environmental sustainability across the province. The joint meeting included provincial ministers, city officials, and key stakeholders and focused on multiple initiatives supported by donor agencies.
One of the pivotal announcements was the induction of 500 electric buses into Karachi’s transportation network. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasized that the city’s public transport system is struggling to cope with its burgeoning population, leading to overcrowding and environmental concerns.
Minister of Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon proposed this initiative, highlighting that the new electric fleet would not only improve commuter experience but also significantly reduce air pollution.
Discussions are already underway with donor agencies to secure necessary funding.
Recognizing the need for modernizing the transport system beyond Karachi, the government plans to introduce 300 diesel-hybrid buses across five divisions of Sindh. Each division—Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad—will receive 60 buses. This expansion aims to enhance connectivity and improve environmental standards in the province.
In a further bid to improve transportation, the government is considering a project to procure 300 electric buses for intercity travel, connecting divisional headquarters throughout Sindh. This initiative aims to provide a reliable and eco-friendly transport option, particularly in light of fare hikes by private operators.
The meeting also addressed the Yellow Line BRT project, which includes a dedicated 21 km corridor from Dawood Chowrangi to Numaish. A private operator will be tasked with financing and operating this project, with an emphasis on utilizing battery electric buses.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah urged the transport and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) unit to finalize feasibility studies by November 2024. In addition to transport projects, the meeting discussed the West Karachi Recycled Water Project-I (WKRWP), which aims to treat 35 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater and supply 27 MGD of industrial-grade water to industries in SITE Karachi. This initiative is expected to decrease dependency on freshwater resources and enhance environmental sustainability.
Moreover, the TP-4 Wastewater Treatment & Recycling Project was outlined, which involves constructing a 22 km interceptor and a treatment plant capable of handling 120 million gallons per day (MGD). The Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the Local Government department to relaunch this project by November 24 to engage donor agencies for funding. Another significant proposal discussed was the Coal to Gasification project, which aims to utilize Pakistan’s extensive coal reserves to meet energy needs.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah indicated that this technology, successfully implemented in countries like South Africa and the United State of America (USA), could help address the country’s gas shortfall. In the agricultural sector, the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah proposed the adoption of advanced pest surveillance systems developed in China, incorporating remote sensing and UAV technology.
Additionally, he emphasized the need for agricultural technology to support farming in arid regions of Sindh, particularly in Tharparkar and Kachho. Collaboration with Chinese authorities is being sought for these initiatives.
