Karachi (April 14, 2015): The Sindh Govt and DAEWOO Pakistan Express Bus Service Limited formally launched the 1st phase of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Intercity Bus Service Project (SBBICBSP) in a simple but impressive ceremony held at CM House Karachi today. This 1st phase of (SBBICBSP) was designed to ply 100 new DAEWOO Buses on the routs to connect the Karachi with Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Benazirabad and Larkana under the Public Private Partnership. Initially 50 buses are being brought on the road while 50 more buses will be inducted in the fleet latter on. The Ambassador of Republic Korea Hong Hwan Song, Consul General Mr. Chang Hee Lee , President DAEWOO Pakistan Express Bus Service Mr. Chang In Park, CEO DAEWOO Pak Express Mr. Shahryar Chisty, Sindh Minister for Transport Mumtaz Jakhrani, Special Assistant to CM Waqar Mehdi, Additional Chief Secretary P&D Muhammad Wasim, Sindh Secretary Tansport Tauha Farooqui, Sindh Secretary Finance Sohail Rajput other officers from Sindh Govt and Diplomates attended the ceremony. Addressing the ceremony as Chief Guest the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that his government has fulfilled another commitment made with people of Sindh for providing them qualitative, comfortable and affordable transport facilities as per vision of Shaheed Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto. He said that this 1st phase of the project is launched with its joint investment of Rs 2 Billion contributed by both partners. He announced that the next phase of this project would be started to provide same transportation facilities to the people of Karachi. He said that Karachi is an important city. When we talking about Karachi that means we are talking about Pakistan. He said that people from all provinces and parts of country and from other countries are working here in Karachi who need better transport facilities. He said that Sindh Government has offered to DAEWOO Express Bus Service limited to invest in Intracity routs of Karachi city which they have agreed and hopefully our next phase would be for Intracity Bus Service Project for Karachi shortly. He said that transport and communication were very much essential for developments, progress and prosperity of the country. The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that this project is launched with its under the Public Private Partnership for which Sindh Government was also investing upto 20% of its commercial debt. He said we will encourage the interesting companies on such a level, so that these should invest even other projects in Sindh Province. He said that in addition to this project the Sindh Government is working vigorously on BRT project in Karachi and very soon we will enter into other agreements to execute the projects. He said that by completing the BRT Projects, the transport problem of Karachi would mostly be resolved by the end of 2017. Lauding the Korean contribution in the development of Pakistan, The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that presence of Ambassador and Consul General of Korea has greatly increased our confidence and assured that Sindh Govt to provide full support for their any investment in the province.
The Sindh Minister for Transport Mr. Mumtaz Jakhrani in his address said that Sindh Government has planned to provide efficient transport facilities to the people of Sindh and added that many mega projects in this regard were either in pipeline or in progress. Contd on P/2…..
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He added and said that few among these projects would be got completed by the end of 2017 under the instruction of Co- Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah. He welcomed the DAEWO Pakistan express Bus Services for joining with Sindh Govt in PPP mode of investment. The Ambassador Republic of Korea Hong Hwan Song in his speech said that this project would be proved as the instrumental source of confidence building and enhancement in bilateral relations with Pakistan. He said that his country was already engaged in many development and industrial projects in the country and we want to increase our investment in the Sindh province as well. He also listed the achievements of his country.
Mr. Chang In Park, President DAEWOO Pakistan Express Bus Services ltd. In his speech said that DAEWOO has be chosen after a transparent bidding process to be the developer and operator for this project. He said that this is a symbolic project launched as gesture of good will. He said that new Busses will be imported specially for this project as per agreement signed with Govt of Sindh. He said that DAEWOO Express has long history of managing the largest road transport network in the country and added that our partnership with Sindh Govt will further strengthening its resolve to provide state of art transport services to people of the province.
He said that DAEWOO Express Pakistan is the only International Bus Services in Pakistan operating in Sindh Punjab and KPK from 52 cities, catering travelling needs of over 500,000 passengers every month.
The Secretary Transport Tauha Farooqui in his address said that actually Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Intercity / Intracity Bus Services & terminal project was designed to bring at least 500 new Buses to establish transport net between Karachi and all Divisional Head Quarters of Sindh and also to extend this facilities upto each District Head Quarter of Sindh in the different phases. He said that 1st phase of this project has been launched jointly by Govt of Sindh and DAEWOO Express Bus Servies under the PPP Mode of Investment agreement to bring 100 Bus and connect Karachi with other Divisional Head Quarters of Sindh. He said that we have offered the DAEWOO Company also to participate in the next phases specially promotes transport facilities in Karachi followed by this one and they have been agreed for.
He said that apart from this we have many other intracity Transport Project under BRT and we are actively working on that project, shortly we will give good news to the citizens of Karachi he added.
Later on the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah along the Ambassador, Consul General of Republic of Korea, Sindh Minister for Transport Mumtaz Jakhrani, President DAEWOO Pakistan Mr. Chang In Park, CEO- DAEWOO Pakistan Shahryar Chishty inaugurated the Bus Service by cutting the Ribbon on Buses. They also went inside the Buses and inspected its seating arrangements and expressed their satisfaction
