KARACHI: The Sindh government has partnered with the World Bank (WB) to prepare a Karachi Transport Master Plan aimed at solving the city’s long-standing transport problems.
The plan will include modern and sustainable solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines, metro light rail, and the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR).
The decision was made during a meeting between Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah and a high-level World Bank delegation led by Ibrahim Khalil Zaki, the bank’s practice manager for transport in the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan.
The World Bank team assured Sindh of full technical and financial support for the project. The master plan will feature multiple modes of transport, including BRT lines, metro rail, tourist trains, goods trains, and the KCR.
CM Murad Ali Shah called the World Bank a “vital development partner” and said the plan would go beyond the Yellow Line BRT to transform Karachi’s transport system.
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He stressed that Karachi needs at least 15,000 buses to meet the city’s daily demand, adding that BRT corridors should be complemented with metro and circular railway networks.
“This is a milestone for sustainable urban mobility. With the World Bank’s support, we aim to deliver this project on time and provide long-term solutions to Karachi’s transport crisis,” the CM said.
Yellow Line BRT Project
Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon gave updates on the Yellow Line BRT project, which stretches 21 km from Dawood Chowrangi to Khalid Bin Waleed Road. The project includes:
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21 at-grade stations
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Four underpasses
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Four elevated stations
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Eight flyovers
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Three underground stations
The Yellow Line is expected to carry 300,000 passengers daily once completed in December 2025.
Sharjeel Memon said construction progress includes Depot 1 at 10% completion, Depot 2 at 17%, with full completion expected by September 2026.
He added that other segments, including the Jam Sadiq Bridge, are making steady progress. Additional corridor works and design improvements are under final review.
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The Yellow Line project is being funded jointly by the World Bank, Sindh government, and private sector.
Transport Industry and Working Group
The CM proposed Dhabeji as a dedicated hub for establishing a transport industry to support both Karachi and the country’s growing transport needs.
It was decided to form a joint working group, with members from both the provincial government and the World Bank, to prepare Terms of Reference (ToRs) for transport experts. The Sindh chief secretary will officially notify the group.
Calling it “big news for Karachi,” the CM said the partnership would lead to long-term, sustainable solutions for the city’s mobility problems.
The World Bank delegation included Lead Transport Economist Georges Bianco, Senior Transport Specialists Frederico Ferreira, Papa Modou, and Magalie.
The Sindh CM was accompanied by Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Planning and Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Planning and Development Chairman Najam Shah, and Transport Secretary Asad Zaman.
