The World Bank has agreed to give funds and technical assistance for the development of the Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit in Karachi and also the formation of an integrated BRT system. The news is of great importance as in previous agreements with the Chinese company, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency proved to be not fruitful and failed miserably. Furthermore, this is also a good omen for the masses of the City of Karachi who often harshly criticize the government for not enhancing the mobility system in the metro city. The project focuses on integrating six BRT lines.
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The big decision was made at CM House where Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah had a meeting with a delegation of World Bank headed by Country Director Patchamuthu Illangovan. Other notable figures from Sindh Assembly were also present in the conference. The country head of the World Bank asserted that World Bank is willing to assist with the condition that the Sindh Government builds good road infrastructure from Dawood Chowrangi to the Malir Expressway. Murad Ali Shah told WB officials that he had already approved 12 billion rupees package for improvement of the roads of Karachi. CM also directed concerned authorities to make a proper documentation and give it to WB official for approval. In the meeting, WB official briefed Sindh CM regarding the high tech system which will connect BRT lines in the city.
In the meeting, other projects, worth $1.55 billion, funded by WB were also discussed. Moreover, Sindh CM also urged WB officials to help them revive the Traffic Engineering Bureau to maintain seamless traffic flow in the city. On which WB country head of World Bank agreed to support the government in any manner they want.
Similarly, Murad Ali Shah also asked officials to provide their technical support for Karachi Water & Sewerage Board. He said, “The water board is overstaffed. Their water supply, distribution and bulk systems are weak and defective”. The revamp of the sewerage system of the Karachi city has already been approved as a World Bank-assisted project.
