KARACHI: The second scheme of multibillion rupee mass transit project aimed at easing the lingering traffic problem of the city is ready to kick off provided the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) releases its 10 percent share.

The State Bank of Pakistan has already given its 90 percent share in this regard, this was stated by Administrator Karachi Mohammad Hussain Syed while taking to media on his visit to the Karachi Press Club here on Tuesday.

He said at present, the densely populated mega city had flyovers and underpasses but ironically it lacked a mass transit system. Syed said Karachi might be the lone city throughout the world where such system did not exist despite having a huge population.

“However, in about all other cities of this magnitude, schemes of mass transit have been initiated which provide better travel facilities to the local population,” he maintained.

Syed said the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) had conducted a thorough study of the transport system of Karachi in coordination with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“The city government has in this regard prepared a comprehensive database in the light of the micro study conducted with the cooperation of JICA,” he added.

The administrator said materialisation of mass transit project was the need of the hour to provide better travel facilities to citizens. He welcomed the private sector to invest in the project to materialise a long awaited dream.

Responding to a query, he said there were some 17 other agencies holding the administrative powers along with CDGK, so why was the CDGK only one to be blamed and added that the media should also deal with them evenhandedly for their negligence.