KCR be made fully operational within three months: SC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the federal government to make Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) operational within one month, and ML-1 project fully operational within two years.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed on Wednesday heard a human rights case regarding colossal loss incurred by Pakistan Railways.

Former CJP Saqib Nisar had taken notice of the corruption in Railways.

Federal Minister for Pakistan Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in pursuance of the court directive appeared before the bench.

At the onset of the hearing, the CJP asked the Railways minister when the KCR will be inaugurated.

The minister replied that whenever the court orders.

Sheikh Rasheed informed the court that 85 percent of the track for KCR had been cleared.

"We carried out an operation last night as well, and razed a few buildings to the ground," he said.

Sheikh Rashid thanked the chief justice for taking interest in the case and said; "We are grateful to you, a lot of work has been done in the past 12 days."

Justice Gulzar said that they were grateful to him, adding in fact the whole nation was grateful to you.

"The KCR is a 'project for the people of Pakistan and not for one individual."

Asad Umar told the court that completing the project in three months would not be possible.

"You are saying that this can't be done, the project will face delays, while people are waiting for it," said the chief justice, while stressing that Pakistan Railways should not let its people sleep and "order them to work".

"The country's financial situation is not very well at the moment. The real issue is that a large amount of funding is required for this project," Umar told the court.

"The Japanese have been asking you over and over again about this project," said the chief justice.

Asad Umar responded that the Sindh government would have to provide an answer for that.

The bench therefore sought a reply from the Sindh government regarding the matter on the next date of hearing.

Umar also asked the court to tell the Sindh government to ensure action on the KCR project.

The chief justice ordered that KCR be made operational within one month and fully functional within three months.

The chief justice warned that there would be serious consequences if the projects were not completed within specified time.

He asked the minister not to give the KCR project to the Sindh government rather keep it with himself.

The chief justice said the KCR would end up like the Karachi transport system, if it was handed to the Sindh government.

"We were hoping that even trams will be run in Karachi," the chief justice said.

CJP Gulzar questioned why the KCR had been added to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

"We added it to the CPEC because of the financial situation," the minister responded.

"If railways sells off some of its land then it can solve its own financial problems," the chief justice said.

"Selling a single property from Karachi will fix the railway's financial system. But the court has put a stay on selling these properties," Sheikh Rasheed responded.

About ML-1 project, the railways minister informed the apex court that the tender for ML-1 project was issued after a delay of 14 years, and the project would take another five years for completion.

Umar informed the court, "We will present the 1,880 kilometres long ML-1 project in front of the CDWP on March 10".

He said that the project would also be approved by Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on April 12.