MTS only solution to transport problems, say experts

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

KARACHI: A good Mass Transit System (MTS) is the only solution to the persisting transportation problems in Karachi, the commercial and industrial hub of the country.

This was informed at a consultative meeting held at Taimuria Library recently to discuss social environment study for Karachi transportation improvement project. The Karachi Mass Transit Cell (KMTC) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is undertaking the project study.

Director General KMTC Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam chaired the meeting. A large number of participants from all walks of life, including citizens, experts, NGOs/CBOs, educational institutions, media and regulatory agencies attended the session. Environmentalist Saquib Ejaz Hussain was a moderator.

Leader of JICA study team, Minoru Shibuya said that it was the time to realise that Karachi city must have a ‘good transport system’ for which JICA would assist the government of Pakistan. “We are here to implement MTS with the assistance of Japanese government. The first phase is to conduct study and develop a transportation master plan for the project”, he said and added that the second phase would be the implementation.

Minoru Shibuya said that the Government of Japan would go on assisting Pakistan, Sindh and Karachi governments for developing a decent transportation system for Karachiites.

The project would facilitate for the development of Karachi Urban Transport Master Plan (KUTMP) for year 2030, besides validation and screening for project, already identified under the Karachi Special Development Package 2020, Transport Section.

The JICA study team through Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) Karachi is conducting the sub-component of the study covering Social Environment Study for the project.

DG KMTC, while giving an overview about the present traffic conditions in the city talked about the steps taken so far to improve the transportation system.

“Mass Transit System is the only solution for Karachi which can only succeed if all stakeholders, especially the citizens of Karachi join hands with CDGK”, he noted.

Giving examples of developing countries in Asia, Malik said that the proposed system would improve the overall urban built environment in the city, which is going to deteriorate day by day. A good transport system is the backbone of a sustainable development.

Team leader of Social Environment Study from the Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) Karachi, Syed Nadeem Arif, gave a presentation on survey objectives and methodology.

Arif pointed out that Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report would evaluate the impacts of proposed system on social environment of the six corridors under study.

It is considered necessary to carry out initial social environment study to identify sensitive and significant social issues in relation to the implementation of the project.

Thereby initial screening, analysing and prioritising the environmental issues are addressed for further study on the measures for mitigation and rectifications. The result will provide vital information if further study for environmental impact assessment would become necessary.

Lastly, the session was opened for question/answers wherein the participants indicated a keen desire for the MTS in Karachi and requested the authorities to materialise and implement this project.

A senior environmentalist Dr Arshad Ali Beg emphasised that the project should be implemented as a goodwill and with determination.

The students from University of Karachi said that transport mafia in the city was the main hurdle in the smooth implementation of transport projects in Karachi. They emphasised on resolving resettlement issues, if any, at the planning stage of project.