KARACHI: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Sunday announced that new population census of provincial capital Karachi would be completed by December 2022.
The federal minister made these remarks while addressing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) District Central Karachi Workers Convention -2021 at Hyderi Market area of the Karachi.
He said that a complaint was received that the people of Karachi were not able to find employment at which, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that census should be conducted every five years. “A fair and transparent census will be conducted in Karachi,” he added.
Talking about other development projects, the minister further stated that the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will be completed within 10-12 days. “The PTI-led government will resolve Karachi’s transport issues,” he said, adding that PM Imran will inaugurate the project in two weeks.
“PM Imran Khan is coming to Karachi to solve the transportation issues of the citizens of Karachi,” said Umar, adding that Karachi’s journey towards development has begun.
Speaking about the local government system in Sindh, Umar said that it doesn’t empower people. He said that the PTI has filed a petition in court regarding the system.
The minister further stated that the education, health, transport, tourism and water supply and sewerage departments would work under the mayor in Islamabad.
Karachi BRT project
On September 19, public transport in Karachi got closer to getting a much-needed boost as a cargo ship carrying the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project buses entered Pakistani territory.
Authorities had confirmed that the cargo ship Feng Shen, loaded with 40 buses, had entered Pakistan’s territorial waters. Earlier, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail had also announced that the BRT project would be inaugurated in Karachi in a month’s time.
The Greenline BRT project had been started back in 2016 by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who had aimed to complete the project within one year. However, due to various reasons, the project remained incomplete.
