Engineering Post Report
Contrary to all apprehensions and fears, Karachi Transformation Plan (KTP) is still intact as it has been duly mentioned in the Federal Budget 2022-23 documents such as the Annual Plan 2022-23 of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives , Planning Commission, Islamabad.
The then Prime Minister had announced the comprehensive Karachi Transformation Plan in the first week of September 2020 at a press conference in Karachi. Its fate apparently hanged in the balance following the change of the government at the federal level in April 2022. Announcement of the new Federal Budget for financial year 2022-23, which was made on June 10,2022, was keenly awaited to see whether KPT is retained by the new federal government or not.
Karachi Transformation Plan has, as stated above, mentioned in the Annual Plan as follows:
“The Federal Government has decided to support the Government of Sindh in addressing the pressing issues of Karachi in the following sectors/ areas through KPT :Water Supply; Sewerage Treatment and Disposal;Solid Waste Management; Storm Water Drains; Improvement/Rehabilitation of Internal Roads;Mass Transit Systems,and; Other Projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode.
“The Government of Pakistan has planned to implement projects amounting to Rs 483 billion through National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited and Pakistan Railways in the next three years from PDSP, PPP and Chinese funding to improve infrastructure in Karachi city in the above sectors/areas.
“The major projects being implemented by the Federal Government are (i) Greater Karachi Water Supply Project (K-IV), (ii) Karachi Circular Railway (KCR),(iii) Completion of Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System, (iv) Clearance of Rivers and Nullahs, (v) Temporary Settlement of Locally Displaced Persons, (vi) 12000 Flats for Locally Displaced Persons from Encroachments,(vii) Development of Malls, education and Health Facilities on the Cleared rehabilitated Nullahs”
According to some other reports in this regard, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has also established a fund for the development of Karachi amounting to Rs 125 billion for KTP projects i.e. Karachi Circular Railway *KCR), Roads/ Expressways astride Gujjar, Mahmoodabad, Orangi Nullahs and remaining portion of Lyari Expressway.
Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in its meeting on March 16,2022 on PPP mode at a total cost of Rs 201572 million with concessionaire (private party) share of Rs 104969 million.
Furthermore under the KTP, the Government of Sindh has also committed to spend around Rs 375 billion on the projects in the priority areas through its Annual Development Programme (ADP)/donors support, and PPP.
The major projects covered by the Government of Sindh are in the areas of Water Supply Scheme, Severage Treatment and Disposal, Solid Waste Management, Flyovers and Mass Transit System i.e. Orange, Red and Yellow BRT lines.
Proposed financing plan for three years 2020-23 amounts to Rs 983 billion including contributions of the Federal Government Rs 483 billion, Government of Sindh Rs 375 and Supreme Court of Pakistan Rs 125 billion.
