Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
The French Agency for Development (AFD) has provided a soft loan of 65 million euros to Pakistan for the safe and environment-friendly public transport project to be implemented in Karachi.
Federal Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Noor Ahmed, Ambassador of France Dr Marc Barety and AFD’s Country Director Philippe Steinmetz signed the agreement worth 65 million euros.
According to the agreement, France will co-finance the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system with Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment bank (AIIB) and Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The project “will be one of the very first collaborative operations for AIIB and GCF in Pakistan on urban development.”
The 26.6-km transport project will integrate innovative energy and climate resilience features to enhance access to quality public transport in Karachi – Pakistan’s commercial hub.
The project agreement was earlier signed between AFD, Sindh province transport department, Sindh mass transit authority and TransKarachi – the company responsible for running the buses.
The project also includes a support component for the transition of the existing bus sector with the integration of informal operators into the new system, which is an essential prerequisite for proper and full commissioning.
Through AFD, France is providing technical and financial support in the energy and urban development sector in Pakistan and has committed 850 million euros in financial support since 2016.
Beyond the 26,6km corridor infrastructure, this project is innovative in many ways including: The substantial financial effort made by development agencies for a higher impact for people’s livelihoods.
It will be one of the very first collaborative operations for AIIB and GCF in Pakistan on urban development.
On climate change mitigation, the choice was made for the bio-methane hybrid bus technology, powered by a dedicated waste methanisation plant.
This technology combined with the massive transport supply, will further limit CO2 emissions from the public transport system.
The holistic street approach is one of the highlights for this urban development project, including organization and facilities for the all public space along the BRT corridor.
Its gender and social inclusion dimensions through adoption of good practices in accessibility and gender mainstreaming is also of great value.
