اردو
  • CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah seeks right of way to revive KCR

    Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah File Photo Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah

    Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) could only be started if the federal government agrees to hand over the right of way to the provincial government.

    According to details  Murad Ali Shah said this on Saturday while speaking to the media after the inauguration of Automated Single Window Facility for Automation of Construction Permits’ in Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) under Ease of Doing Business.

    He was accompanied by Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Planning and Development Department Chairperson Naheed Shah, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir, SBCA Director General Iftikhar Qaimkhani and others.

    Shah said that he had not received the order of the Supreme Court (SC) as yet and maintained he would implement it when he received it.

    Speaking about the launch of the KCR project within 30 days [as directed by SC], the CM said that the federal government was reluctant to hand over the right of way for KCR to the provincial government.

    “In 2016 I wrote a letter to the prime minister with the request to issue directives for handing over the right of way for KCR and since then I have made similar requests repeatedly but all in vain,” said Shah asking that how was it possible to start the project in such circumstances.

    Responding to a question, he said that he and his party leadership had raised their voices against the federal government’s failure to achieve their revenue collection targets, but the federal ministers would begin singing their rehearsed tune of ‘not giving NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance]’ to the opposition.

    “Who has asked them for NRO? We are just reminding you [the Centre] to improve efficiency and achieve your revenue targets, because of your inefficiency, the provinces are facing financial hardships,” said Shah.

    Answering another question regarding 70% illegal constructions in the city, Shah said the 70% illegal buildings were not built in the past 10 years. “There should have been a survey of such buildings and their occupants so that alternative arrangements could be made before taking any action,” he said.

    When asked about the Sindh governor, the CM said that he shared a good working relationship with him. “The governor has a constitutional role and if he will be working within his specified role there will be no issue,” he added.

    Referring to disappearances of wheat from godowns, the CM said that anti-corruption and the National Accountability Bureau have begun taking action. “Whosoever has stolen the wheat will face consequences.”