Tokyo (February 26, 2013) – Speaking to a delegation from Pakistan comprising of senior officials from Karachi Mass Transit Cell Project, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Pakistan Railways and JICA who are on a two week tour, Ambassador of Pakistan Farukh Amil (فاروق عامل) said that Karachi and other large cities in Pakistan need a mass transit system fit for the second decade of the 21st Century. The most pressing requirement was in Karachi, a city that had grown substantially in size in the last 25 years. With the population set to steadily rise the need would become more urgent.
Mr. Anjum Pervaiz, Director General, Pakistan Railways Academy elaborated the present position of the Karachi Circular Railways KCR project. He informed that Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had made the necessary approvals. They informed that KCR will be 86 Km long with 27 stations to be built around the city. Project Director of KCR Mr. Ejaz Surkhel said that the biggest challenge in the KCR project implementation was the resettlement of people living on the proposed KCR line. He informed that the research study for relocation had been completed and various issues had been resolved amicably as per the guidelines of World Bank and to the satisfaction of JICA, also keeping in view all the social and cultural aspects. He stated that all preconditions set by JICA before signing the loan agreement had been completed. He said that JICA’s Appraisal Committee’s visit was now awaited.
The Ambassador assured the delegation of the Embassy’s full support for the project. He said that the Embassy will continue to pursue the KCR project with JICA and the Government of Japan to secure early implementation. The Ambassador thanked the JICA Team for their continuing cooperation and commitment to the infrastructural development of Pakistan.