Mustehkam Pakistan, an advocacy firm dedicated to safeguarding the community’s interests, is deeply concerned by the ongoing disruptions faced by Karachi’s residents and commuters due to prolonged delays in constructing the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. These delays have escalated severe health, economic, and environmental challenges within the city.
Construction has led to significant disruptions, such as dug-up roads, open drains, and excessive dust, creating serious issues for residents and commuters alike. The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has reported a substantial deterioration in Karachi’s air quality, with particulate matter (PM) levels exceeding the safe limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Construction activities and increased traffic congestion have compounded these issues, endangering the health of millions of Karachiites. These risks, coupled with the mental stress and anxiety caused by navigating through disrupted roads, are adversely affecting the well-being of Karachi’s residents.
Fawad Khan, spokesperson for Mustehkam Pakistan, has emphasised the urgent need for the government to expedite the completion of the Red Line BRT project, highlighting that the delays are not mere inconveniences but are leading to serious health concerns and significant economic challenges for local businesses and the people of Karachi.
It is pertinent to mention that the Red Line BRT project was launched in March 2022 with an estimated completion time of 30 months. However, more than two years have passed, and the construction still needs to be finished. The government has now set June 2026 as the new target for its completion.
Muhammad Arham, a commuter affected by the delays, expressed frustration: “The BRT project has turned my daily commute into a headache, significantly increasing travel times and causing mental stress.”
Mustehkam Pakistan urges all stakeholders to prioritise the timely completion of the Red Line BRT project to address the health hazards, economic impacts, and environmental effects on the people of Karachi.
Project brief:-
According to ADB, the proposed project will help increase the use of quality public transport in Karachi by delivering the 26.6-kilometre (km) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line corridor and associated facilities, benefiting 1.5 million people. The project is economically justified by major time savings for BRT passengers, vehicle operating cost savings, better air quality and reduced carbon emissions through an innovative waste-to-fuel scheme, which will improve public health and mitigate climate change. It will also make Karachi safer, greener, more inclusive and competitive.
The project is aligned with the following impact: improved quality of life in Karachi. The project will have the following outcome: use of quality public transport in Karachi increased.