KARACHI, Apr 22: Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah met Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday and discussed reviving suburban train services, Karachi Circular railway, rehabilitating old tracks and introducing new trains on the Karachi-Rohri and Karachi-Jacobabad (via Kotri and Dadu) routes.
In the meeting, held at CM House, they also discussed developing green corridors along railway tracks to improve urban mobility and environmental sustainability in Karachi.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Minister for Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon, Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Secretary to CM Asif Jameel, Secretary Local Government Waseem Shamshad, Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, along with senior officials of Pakistan Railways, including Chairman Syed Mazhar Ali Shah and General Manager Hafeezullah, Additional GM Railway Hammad Mirza, DS Karachi Jamshaid Alam, DIG Raiulways 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 Karachi Circular Railways (KCR), offers an affordable and environmentally friendly solution for daily commuters.
They also discussed the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) to meet the city’s transportation needs. Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon stated that the KCR is 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.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah emphasised upon 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.
C M Shah stressed the need for a coordinated framework between the federal and provincial governments to rehabilitate infrastructure, improve scheduling, and ensure regular operations.
Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi assured full cooperation from 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.
Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah informed the federal minister that the provincial government was planning to construct an underpass at Malir Halt, but due to delays in the issuance of the No Objection Certificate (NOC),
the project has been pending.
At this, the railway minister directed the chairman Railways to issue the NOC so that it could be constructed.
Sindh Chief Minister and the Federal Minister for Railways 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. Minister Local Government Nasir Shah said that these two routes were old and its revival would faciliate the people of the areas and prove to be financially viable.
The meeting also discussed a proposal to develop greenbelts and linear plantations along railway corridors, particularly from Karachi Cantonment to Jumma Goth, in collaboration with the Government of Sindh.
The Chief Minister welcomed the initiative, stating, “Developing green corridors along railway lines will not only improve the city’s environment but also help prevent encroachments and enhance urban aesthetics.”
The meeting decided that the Forest and Local Government departments would work with Pakistan Railways to implement plantation drives with proper maintenance mechanisms.
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.
Murad Ali Shah directed the district administration to extend full support to Pakistan Railways for removing illegal encroachments. “Encroachments cannot be allowed to compromise public infrastructure. We will provide full administrative backing to clear railway land,” he asserted.
Hanif Abbasi also stressed strict action, saying, “Railway land is a national asset. We will work with the Sindh government to ensure its protection and lawful utilisation.”
The issue of outstanding dues for the maintenance and upgradation of railway level crossings across Sindh also came up for discussion. The Chief Minister 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.
Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination mechanisms, resolve jurisdictional issues through joint demarcation, and accelerate efforts to improve infrastructure and strengthen regulatory enforcement.
Reaffirming his commitment, the Chief Minister said, “We will 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.”
