Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the ceremony of Green Line Bus Service Project

PM Imran Khan inaugurates Green Line project in Karachi

PM Imran Khan launches trial operations of the Green Line BRT project this afternoon.
Says no city can develop without a modern transport system.
Laments that several governments came and went, but "no one paid attention" to Karachi's transportation system.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has inaugurated the trial operation of the much-awaited Green Line Bus Service project today during his one-day visit to Karachi.

The inauguration was held at the main station of the Green Line project at Numaish Chowrangi. He inaugurated the first phase of the hybrid bus project under the Karachi Transformation Plan.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the premier said that no city can develop without a modern transportation system.

"No modern city can function without a modern transportation system [...] and Karachi is Pakistan's engine of growth. If Karachi is prosperous, then Pakistan will become prosperous too," he said.

The premier went on to say that there's a city like this in every country — London runs the United Kingdom, New York has a major impact on the United States, Paris has an impact on France.

"So just like this, if we are helping Karachi to prosper, it means that we are helping Pakistan [...] building a transportation system is the first step towards building a modern city," he said.

The prime minister lamented that several governments came and went, but "no one paid attention" to Karachi's transportation system.

Citing the example of some of the most developed cities of the world, the premier said that those cities were able to progress because they had modern management.

"Until and unless we focus on the management of Karachi, it cannot turn into a modern city," he said. "Karachi, according to my estimate, does not even generate $30 million in revenue. It is important to give autonomy to Karachi, just like Tehran, London, and New York," he said.

The prime minister said there was a need to get the mayor directly elected in Karachi and PTI was about to do it in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Lahore.

While shedding light on environmental issues, he said due to the growing population, Karachi has become a very polluted city, therefore, measures must be taken to address the problem.

Karachi Transformation Plan
Moving on to the Karachi Transformation Plan, the prime minister said he was "happy" to know the PTI government was living up to its development-related promises and work is underway.

"The cleaning of nullahs, the works on the freight corridor are underway, but I am particularly happy about one project — K-4 — in which I am personally involved and take regular updates from WAPDA chairman," he said.

PM Imran Khan said during the next month, the groundbreaking ceremony of the K4 Project would be performed, and in the next 14-15 months, it will be completed.

"In 2023, we will be able to provide water to Karachi from Kenjhar Lake in August or September," the prime minister said.

Advice to Sindh government
The premier said that the PTI-led government had launched health cards, as when a person in a family is sick, and they can't get that person treated, it becomes a tragedy for them.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, every family has a health card; in Punjab, some districts have it, and in January or March, every family will have it there. "Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan are all geared up to roll it out."

The prime minister told the Sindh government to partake in it and introduce it in the province, so people can benefit from it.

"I would like to urge the Sindh government to cooperate with the Centre in this regard," he said.

PTI workers stage protest
Meanwhile, prior to the arrival of the primer, the workers of the PTI staged a sit-in protest for not being invited to the launch ceremony. MPA Jamal Siddiqui attempted to appease the angry workers.

Green Line Bus Rapid Transit
The Green Line Bus project was announced by the PML-N's federal government in July 2014. On February 26, 2016, the foundation stone of the 17.8 km long track from Surjani to Guru Mandir was laid.


Watch Geo News LiveStream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrrpR7zjFpU

For More Videos Subscribe - https://www.youtube.com/geonews
Visit our Website for More Latest Update - https://www.geo.tv/


#Karachi
#PMIK
#GreenLine