Karachi Red Line project gains pace as Sindh sets September 15 road deadline

Construction on Karachi’s long-awaited BRT Red Line is gathering momentum, with the Sindh government setting September 15 as the deadline to make University Road fully motorable, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Saturday.

Sharjeel inspected construction activity along the Red Line corridor and received a briefing on road works, bridge construction and other components of the project.

He said carpeting had already been completed at several points along University Road, while work was continuing to make the entire artery accessible to traffic.

The minister said the government was accelerating work on the Red Line while construction on the Yellow Line was also progressing. He added that Sindh was pursuing a broader expansion of modern public transport in Karachi.

The plan includes additional double-decker buses, taxis and electric buses. Sharjeel said agreements had been signed and orders placed for 500 electric buses, which would soon become available to Karachi residents.

Government initiatives would also provide motorbikes and scooters, he added.

Sharjeel linked the transport expansion to a wider development programme covering housing, energy, education and infrastructure. He highlighted the Sindh housing programme, Shahrah-e-Bhutto and Thar coal power projects as examples of development being pursued through public-sector initiatives and public-private partnerships.

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He said Thar coal was now contributing more than 3,500 megawatts to electricity generation and could eventually help Pakistan meet its energy needs while creating opportunities for coal exports.

The minister acknowledged that Karachi continued to face problems involving electricity, water, sewerage and municipal services. He said Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was personally monitoring the situation and that the provincial government was working to resolve the city’s longstanding challenges.

Sharjeel defended the government’s performance, saying it was focused on completing projects rather than simply making announcements. He described Karachi as one of Pakistan’s key economic centres and said its development was essential to the country’s wider economic progress.

He also called for “positive and responsible” politics in Karachi, warning that negative propaganda could damage the city’s image and discourage investment.

On the creation of new provinces, Sharjeel reiterated the PPP’s position that any such move must follow the Constitution and receive approval from the relevant provincial assembly.

He urged the media to report both government achievements and shortcomings, saying criticism remained important for accountability and institutional reform.

Asked about former prime minister Imran Khan, Sharjeel said medical treatment should be available to every sick person regardless of political affiliation. Humanitarian considerations, he said, should remain above political differences.

The minister also called for greater federal attention to Sindh’s airport and motorway infrastructure, arguing that improved connectivity was crucial for the province’s economic development.

Sharjeel concluded by stressing that constitutional and legal procedures must be respected, saying adherence to the law was essential for Pakistan’s progress.