Karachi’s Transit Makeover: Taj Haider Bridge Nears Launch as Sindh Unveils Women’s Scooters, Electric Buses
Adnan Athar
Karachi
September 22, 2025
Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, said the provincial government, with the support of the World Bank, is working day and night on the Yellow Line BRT project. Work on depots and other construction activities is in full swing, while the bridge named after the late Senator Taj Haider is in the final stages of completion. The government aims to complete this bridge within a week and open it to the public.
Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon visited the Taj Haider Bridge, an important part of the Yellow Line BRT in Karachi, to review the construction work. Secretary Transport Asad Zamin and Project Director of the Yellow Line BRT, Zameer Abbasi, were also present on the occasion.
Speaking to the media, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government is committed to providing modern travel facilities to the people of Karachi. This week, “Pink Scooters” will be distributed exclusively for women, free of cost, to help them meet their travel needs more conveniently. He added that a large fleet of double-decker buses and electric buses will also arrive in Karachi in the coming weeks.
Sharjeel Inam Memon added that during President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to China, important meetings were held to discuss establishing manufacturing plants in Sindh for the production of electric and regular buses. According to him, this step will not only improve travel facilities but also create local employment opportunities.
He further said that Chinese investors have shown strong interest in the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, where new industries will be established, creating jobs for the youth. President Zardari, during his China visit, particularly stressed the need to set up more industries to boost Pakistan’s economy and to train local manpower in China so they can secure employment opportunities.
In response to a question, the Senior Minister said that large projects often face hurdles such as utility transfers. The Red Line project, he noted, also faced similar issues. PTCL and K-Electric demanded millions of rupees, which delayed progress. He said the government is in constant contact with the institutions to resolve these issues and has directed the secretary to settle the current dispute with K-Electric within 24 hours.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that after the inauguration of the Senator Taj Haider Bridge, Jam Sadiq Bridge will be demolished and rebuilt in a modern style. He explained that the new bridge will feature separate tracks for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists to ensure safe and convenient facilities for citizens.
Regarding the attack on journalist Imtiaz Mir, he said the Sindh government took immediate action, and case is also being registered, and will ensure that those responsible are arrested. He expressed his best wishes for the injured journalist and assured that the government will provide full support for his recovery.
Speaking on the murders of three transgender people, the minister said these were isolated incidents and their motives are under investigation. He stressed that the government will not spare the perpetrators under any circumstances.
Sharjeel Inam Memon also noted that during President Zardari’s visit to China, detailed discussions took place on expanding cooperation in energy, agriculture, and solid waste management. He described the visit as highly successful, adding that major projects in these sectors would soon be launched.
Commenting on the use of inappropriate language by a journalist from Punjab, he said such behavior was regrettable. He noted that while policies may be debated, no one has the right to target an entire community. He emphasized that the priority right now should be helping flood victims rather than engaging in political disputes.
Criticizing the federal government’s wheat policy, he said that if farmers had been provided a support price, as suggested by President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan would not be forced to spend billions of rupees on wheat imports. He pointed out that Sindh still has 1.2 million tons of wheat, but the federal government is unwilling to purchase it from farmers at a fair price. He stressed that Pakistan is an agricultural country and supporting farmers is the only way to strengthen the economy.
On the flood situation in Punjab, he said the scale of destruction could have been reduced with better planning, but inexperience made the losses worse. By contrast, he said, Sindh managed the situation more effectively under the direct monitoring of the Chief Minister and the establishment of a control room, which helped limit the damage.
