Sindh Senior Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that continuing with work on the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project despite mounting financial and economic challenges was a critical decision taken in the larger public interest.
Speaking to the media during a visit to review development work on the Red Line BRT in Karachi on Sunday, he revealed that the project had at one stage come close to suspension due to escalating costs. He cited rising inflation, economic recession, depreciation of the rupee against the dollar, and increased cement prices as major hurdles that had significantly inflated expenses.
“There came a moment when it was difficult to decide whether to continue with or halt the project,” he said. “However, the Government of Sindh resolved that this initiative is not for today alone but for the next 40 to 50 years.”
He emphasised that the Red Line BRT was being developed with future generations in mind, aimed at improving transport and mobility in view of Karachi’s expanding population and worsening traffic congestion. He noted that approximately 99 per cent of the expenditure was allocated for infrastructure, while a comparatively small portion was to be spent on buses and rolling stock of the project.
Despite the challenges, Memon maintained that work had continued steadily and was now visibly progressing. He rejected allegations of negligence in constructing the project, stating that any delays were purely the result of unforeseen obstacles rather than inefficiency or misconduct. The Sindh government, he added, was directly supervising the entire scheme.
He announced that instructions had been issued to resolve road-related issues along the project corridor before Eidul Fitr, adding that roads on both sides of the project would soon be improved.
Efforts are under way to complete the University Road section at the earliest, while a 2.7-kilometre stretch affected by water infrastructure augmentation works was expected to be completed by April.
The senior minister stated that several mega development projects were currently under way in Karachi. Facilities on Shahrah-e- Bhutto were expected to be completed up to Quaidabad by the end of March or the first week of April with plans to extend the route to the M-9 Motorway. This, he said, would significantly ease traffic congestion for residents.
He added that work was progressing on multiple underpasses across the city, whereas, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was undertaking improvements to internal roads. The city’s mayor, he said, was personally monitoring development projects to ensure timely completion.
Responding to questions about the BRT corridor, he explained that the initial priority was given to completing the main corridor to address traffic bottlenecks and narrow roads. Now that the corridor structure was largely ready, the surrounding roads would be completed to restore smooth traffic flow along University Road, he said, adding that the section being inspected was expected to be finalised by the end of March, while the remaining 2.7-kilometre stretch would be completed in April.
Some additional BRT-related work may take another a year and a half, he said. Memon disclosed that disputes with contractors had been resolved through negotiations and arbitration, saving public funds. “It would have been easier to simply accept all contractor demands, but we scrutinised every detail to ensure transparency and protect government resources,” he maintained.
On the issue of buses awaiting clearance at the port, he stated that new vehicles had been procured but have faced customs-related delays over the past two months. He expressed the hope that the Sindh would be granted the same customs concessions reportedly extended to Punjab, alleging that Punjab was charged only one per cent duty while Sindh had been asked to pay 18 per cent. The matter, he said, was being pursued with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
When asked about the possible release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, Memon said he was unaware of any timeline and offered prayers for Khan’s health during the holy month of Ramazan.
He called for restraint, civility and responsible language in political debate, warning that abusive rhetoric harmed not only opponents but also families and public culture at large.
Commenting on the Governor House, he described it as a constitutional institution meant to foster harmony between the federation and the province, adding that unnecessary meetings should be avoided there.
