CPEC: Sindh CM directs authorities to resolve land issues regarding KCR project

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed authorities concerned to resolve land issues regarding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)’s Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project.

The chief minister issued these directives while chairing a meeting related to KCR.

Addressing the meeting, he said Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) project is vital for addressing traffic issues of the city.

He maintained that the Sindh government was taking steps for early start of the project and directed officials concerned that documentation of the project be completed at earliest.

The CM directed them to resolve the land issue for the project and expressed the hope that work on the project will soon be started after getting it approved from China and Pakistan joint working group.

Earlier in April, it emerged that Pakistan has asked China to expedite work on US $ 2 billion KCR and US $10 billion Mainline-1 (ML-1) — the 1,872 kilometers railway track as agreed between the leadership of the two nations in November.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Development, Pakistan “requested strong support of National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC) and other relevant Chinese government institutions to advance implementation of important projects like ML-1, KCR and key energy projects in line with the leadership consensus.”

During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing last year, the Chinese political leadership agreed to fast-track processing for ML-1 by immediately triggering their respective teams.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) last year in November approved Pakistani Rs 292.4 billion funds for the KCR project with a foreign share of Rs 263 billion.

The project envisages the construction of 44-kilometre-long and dedicated track of modern urban Railway in Karachi starting from Drigh road, passing through areas including Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Federal B area, Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, SITE, and Liyari.

Recently, Federal government reviewed CPEC projects including ML-1 Railways and the KCR. The Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing briefed the participants on the status of ML-1 and KCR projects.

It was decided that the concerned authorities and departments from China and Pakistan would actively pursue their part furnishing all needful ensuring there is no further delay to cause a slowdown.

The meeting was also briefed about the current status of the Allama Iqbal Industrial City, Rashakai, Bostan, and Dhabeji SEZs and Gwadar Port Authority and Gwadar Free Zone.