Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has stated that work on the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is continuing around the clock, and University Road will be opened for traffic by the end of July. He apologized to the public, acknowledging that citizens have faced temporary inconvenience due to the construction, and emphasized that the government had to make tough decisions.
Memon expressed these views while speaking to the media during an inspection of ongoing development work on the Red Line BRT. Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, CEO TransKarachi Zubair Channa, and other officials were also present.
Karachi's Infrastructure Challenges
Sharjeel noted that Karachi should have been the starting point of a motorway network, but planning did not reflect this priority. He added that Karachi is located at the far end of Pakistan and also faces a 20% water shortage. The opening of Shahrah-e-Bhutto has provided major relief to citizens, saving travel time.
Healthcare and Housing Initiatives
The senior minister highlighted that Karachi has the highest number of healthcare facilities in Pakistan, and patients from across the country come here for free treatment. He also referred to GIMS Hospital in Gambat, where free and quality medical care is provided. Additionally, the world's largest housing project is underway in Sindh, building 2.1 million houses for low-income families.
Sharjeel further stated that Sindh has invested $1 billion in the Thar coal project, generating affordable electricity benefiting the entire country. A terminal is being constructed on the Northern Bypass to resolve Karachi's heavy traffic issues. He noted that people from across Pakistan come to Karachi for employment, and the city bears a significant burden of providing jobs and healthcare, which must be considered when comparing with other cities.
Political Remarks
Responding to a question, Sharjeel said that Captain (retd) Safdar has no political standing for him to comment on, and he does not wish to engage further in political discussion about him. He added that Safdar did not respect the sanctity of the Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum and used inappropriate language during the election campaign.
In response to another question, he said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had a weak election campaign there, which is why he was sent. He stressed the need to strengthen the federation and said development goals would be set after the federal budget. On another question, Sharjeel said that no draft of the 28th Constitutional Amendment has been prepared, and it is only speculation.
