In Karachi, transport-associated challenges over the previous eras, have grown significantly, resulting in a fall in efficiency, and having a huge influence on the living standards of its people. Furthermore, traffic congestion has contributed to raised air and noise pollution, leading to health challenges, high accident rates, and environmental degradation. This has also concluded a fall in living standards, as in order to avoid long commutes, citizens’ living selections have become further limited and this has decided where they live. This has often concluded in a fall in income and a decline in personal security, which has affected the most susceptible, specifically females. In Pakistan, Karachi having more than 20 million population, is the largest city, and within the world one amongst the fastest growing cities. The City comprises much of Pakistan’s industrial base and is the location of various federal institutions. It is also said that 69 percent of the land is privately owned, and there’s little of no coordination between the various landowners. The Researchers revealed that transport-associated challenges in spite of Karachi’s significance are increasing. Every year a large number of private vehicles are added to its road, but the number of public transport registered buses has fallen. Because of this fall, on the roofs of buses citizens are forced to travel, which is severely speaking unlawful, and citizens also have to wait at bus stops for long times to get a ride. From diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG), studies revealed that a large number of buses have converted. However, because of a lack of supply, the sale of CNG is only allowed in few days of the week, and it is only on those days that CNG buses can function. This creates further challenges for the commuting public. Studies also revealed that Karachi Strategic Development Plan-2020 (KSDP 2020), accepted in 2007 through CDGK, proposes development of public transport system that is sensible as well as convenient. In KSDP 2020 for the transport system, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) are proposed. Just like other mega cities of the world, Karachi city unluckily does not have an effectual Mass Transit System. This is reasoning huge challenges to the commuters of the city at large. It was therefore, planned through government of Pakistan to revive the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) as a modern Commuter System. Pakistan Railways sources recorded that now desire to upgrade and enlarge the circular railway and double-track those parts of it that are single track. The analysis of economic survey of Pakistan FY2019 analyzed that Pakistan Railway is a single major mode of transport in public sector contributing to economic progress and offering national integration.
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Pakistan Railways consists of total 470 locomotives (458 Diesel Engine and 12 Steam Engines) for 7,791 kilometers length of route. Analysis also analyzed that during FY2019 (July-February), gross earnings increased by 10.3 percent and worth to Rs 34,0661 million as compared to Rs 30891.1 million during the corresponding period previous year. During the period July- February FY2019, number of passengers carried grew to 39.9 million as compared to 35.9 million during the corresponding period previous year, which recorded a growth of 11.0 percent. Likewise passenger traffic Km (million), freight carried tones million, and Freight tons Km (million) grew by 11.9 percent, 2.9 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively. Historically in 1964, KCR was commissioned and extremely patronized till 1984 when per day 104 trains were operating, however, the operational competence was marginalized because of lack of investment thus resulting in the reduction of ridership and eventually it absolutely was closed December 1999. The Experts recorded that during 2004-05, the government of Pakistan initiated to revive KCR as a contemporary commuter system for the Karachi city. The Government also requested Government of Japan for the revival of KCR. Different sources also recorded that this project was undertaken with the technical and financial help of the government of Japan by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). No doubt for train in the whole country, Pakistan Railways is preparing a brand policy to increase revenues, as the institution plans to introduce various more passenger and cargo trains. Presently, as a rehabilitation project, KCR has also shown some progress towards its implementation. Another deadline to revive KCR has been given to the Sindh government through the Supreme Court. To complete the operation to clear encroachments from the KCR track, the court has given a 1-month deadline and 3-month to relaunch the project. The Ministry of Railways recorded that that they just have to clear 5 kilometres of the encroached KCR track. The present government moreover is in the process of getting the updated PC-1 of the ML1 project. The Ministry also recorded that after the completion of ML-1 the train would complete its journey from Lahore to Karachi in 6-hour and from Rawalpindi to Karachi in 8-hour adding new signals and tracks would also be built. Pakistan Railways officials are to introduce an enormous operation to demolish encroachments from various parts in the city. The operation according to the sources, is being carried out in line with the orders given through the Supreme Court, when the apex court directed the removal of encroachments on KCR route. Statistics showed that Pakistan Railways is offering 100 stations for branding. It is also said that Railways would proclaim 1600 career opportunities for the citizens of Karachi while 150,000 jobs would be created because of ML-1 project. In last, the revival of KCR is the best initiative for the citizens and it is hoped that it would be functional shortly.