Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday met Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and discussed reviving suburban train services, Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), rehabilitating old rail tracks and introducing new trains on the Karachi-Rohri and Karachi-Jacobabad via Kotri and Dadu routes, as well as developing green corridors along railway tracks to improve urban mobility and environmental sustainability in Karachi.
The meeting, held at the CM House, was also attended by Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Secretary to CM Asif Jameel, Local Government Secretary Waseem Shamshad, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, and senior officials of the Pakistan Railways, including Chairman Syed Mazhar Ali Shah, General Manager Hafeezullah, Additional GM Railway Hammad Mirza, DS Karachi Jamshaid Alam, DIG Railways South Muneer Shaikh and others.
The meeting focused on the revival and sustainable operation of suburban train services, particularly in Karachi, to address growing urban transport challenges. The participants agreed that the suburban rail network, including the KCR, offered an affordable and environmentally friendly solution for daily commuters.
The meeting also discussed the revival of the KCR to meet the city’s transportation needs. Memon stated that the KCR was vital for the city and that, once restored, the BRT systems would function as its feeders. The meeting agreed that the transport department would develop a KCR mega project and implement it with the support of a private partner.
The CM emphasised the importance of restoring rail-based urban mobility. “Karachi urgently needs efficient mass transit solutions. Reviving suburban rail services will significantly reduce traffic congestion and provide affordable transport to the public,” he said.
He also stressed the need for a coordinated framework between the federal and provincial governments to rehabilitate infrastructure, improve scheduling and ensure regular operations. The federal railways minister assured the Sindh government of full cooperation from the Pakistan Railways. “We are committed to restoring suburban train services in Karachi. With joint efforts, we can transform this system into a reliable and modern mode of transport,” he said.
The chief secretary informed the federal minister that the provincial government was planning to construct an underpass at Malir Halt, but due to delays in issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC), the project had stalled. To this, Abbasu directed the Railways chairman to issue the NOC.
The CM and federal minister also agreed to start train services from Karachi to Rohri and from Karachi-Hyderabad to Jacobabad via Kotri, Dadu, Larkana, Habib Kot, Shikarpur and Qambar Shahdadkot.
The local government minister said these two routes were old and their revival would provide convenience to the people of the areas. The meeting also discussed a proposal to develop greenbelts and linear plantations along railway corridors, particularly from the Karachi Cantonment to Jumma Goth, in collaboration with the Sindh government.
The CM welcomed the initiative, stating that developing green corridors along railway lines would not only improve the city’s environment but also help prevent encroachments. It was decided that the Sindh forest and local government departments would work with the Pakistan Railways to implement plantation drives.
Encroachments on railway land were identified as a major hurdle in the smooth functioning of rail services. The meeting reviewed important sites, including areas near Gilani Railway Station, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Essa Nagri along the KCR track. The CM directed the district administration to extend full support to the Pakistan Railways for removing illegal encroachments.
The issue of outstanding dues for the maintenance and upgrade of railway level crossings across Sindh was also discussed. The CM directed that a comprehensive reconciliation be carried out to settle pending liabilities.
“Public safety is our top priority. High-risk level crossings must be upgraded without delay to prevent accidents,” he said adding that the Sindh government would continue to work closely with the federal government to modernise transport infrastructure, improve connectivity, and enhance the quality of life for the people of Sindh.
