ISLAMABAD: Chairperson National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marvi Memon Tuesday said that the government under the Vision 2025 had started implementing the transport policy with the objective of enhancing national productivity.
Addressing the participants of Pakistan Sustainable Transport Project "Commuting with dignity: a political dialogue on sustainable urban transport in Pakistan", here, she said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was aimed at providing better connectivity to all areas, besides the increasing national trade.
Marvi Memon, who is also Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader, said there was need that national political leadership should forge consensus on such an important issue which had direct bearing on the national economic progress.
She said urban-rural divide could be bridged to a large extent under a viable national transport plan. If people from far flung areas had better commuting facilities they would feel integrated with national mainstream, which would help create a positive national narrative.
Marvi said the national progress depended on mega projects and Metro Bus Service was one of those. Mega transport projects would provide better and fast link to farmers to consumers in cities, besides creating new job opportunities.
She said the Metro-like modern transportation projects should be launched in all the provinces so that the people of those areas did not feel deprived.
She said there would be fuel efficiency for transportation of trade goods on modern highways.
Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Shehla Raza said the provincial government was striving to launch Karachi Circular Railway project to provide cheap transport facility to the residents of mega city. Moreover, a Metro-like bus service would also be launched to meet the growing demand of good transport, she added. She said the Sindh government had built exclusive terminals for oil tankers and inter-city buses as it was need of the hour.
Senator Shahi Syed of Awami National Party said it was alarming that thousands of people annually die in Pakistan due to road accidents and air pollution caused by transport. Terrorism and corruption were the two major issues faced by the nation, he added. He said it was unfortunate that even good works done by various political governments were politicized by the opponents, causing loss to the national economy.
Without naming the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPK government, he said, "Some people themselves do nothing for the betterment of masses, but criticise others, who launch public-welfare projects like Metro Bus Service".
Senator Tahir Mashhadi of Muttahida Qaumi Movement said transport system should reflect the desires and needs of the people of respective areas.
Naeemur Rehman of Jamaat Islami said there was need for planning keeping in view the national resources.
Other speakers stressed the need for capacity building of the institutions to run Metro-like mega projects in the country. Political will was needed to make the Metro Bus project successful, they added.
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