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10 May 2012:
The issues regarding to necessary investment in the circular railways system would, however, not be an issue to the Pakistan railways authority as the funds thus required would be arranged with the assistance of the private sector. The project of Karachi Circular railway (KCR) would preliminary cost $1.558 billion to be implemented through the JICA of Japan. This was disclosed in a meeting held with Sindh Governor in Chair regarding revival of Karachi Circular railways on Wednesday at Sindh Governor House.
According to sources, Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan while presiding over a high level meeting assured that the impediments in the way of KCR would be removed on priority basis. The Governor apprised himself of the proposed timetable of this very project and stressed that it should be initiated before June 2013 so that the people could get the relief.

5 March 2012:
The work on the much-delayed Karachi Circular Railway will be started in July after a financial agreement is signed with a Japanese company which has been given the job of rehabilitating the existing track and extending it to other areas of the city.
Briefing the Senate’s Standing Committee on Pakistan Railways here on Saturday, Ijaz Hussain Khilji of the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation, said that the 1558.8 millions dollar project will be completed by the end of 2016 and in 2017 it will be fully operational.

4 March 2012:
Senate Standing Committee on Pakistan Railways was told that the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project will start this month and will be completed in 2017. The cost of the project will be Rs 128.6 billion.
This was told in a meeting of standing committee held under chairmanship of Senator Moulna Gul Naseeb. While other members Abdul Rashid, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, Abdul Ghaffar Qurishi. Railways DS Nazar Hussain Rizivi, Secretary Railway attended the meeting.
He said that 941 acres of railways land was illegally occupied in the city of Karachi. It has been decided that this occupied land of the railways will be vacated. This process has been started in the city. Those who will get affected in this operation will be compensated with plots in the Bin Qasim area where 270 acres land has been obtained for the purpose. Every family will be given a house and Rs 50,000 cash as they can shift from railways land to there.

20 February 2012:
No re-lending charges will be levied by the federal government on the over $1.457 billion Japanese government loan being obtained for the Karachi circular railway project, said an official on Sunday.
Karachi Urban Transport Corporation managing director Ejaz Khilji said a decision had been taken in principle to that effect at a meeting presided over by the prime minister, and only formalities such as getting it passed by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council remained which would be fulfilled in the next couple of months.
He said efforts were being made to complete formalities so that the loan pledge agreement with JICA could be signed on 26 April 2012, making it to coincide with the completion of 60 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan. The project is expected to start in June 2012 and to complete by April 2017.

30 November 2011:
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, on Wednesday presided a high level meeting to review Development Portfolio of Sindh, here at the Governor House.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also directed the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant authorities to complete the Circular Railway Project in the city which has been subject to delay due to bureaucratic hurdles.
The Secretary Railways informed that total cost of the project is Rs 128 billions and JICA has offered to bear 93.5 percent cost as soft-term loan.
The Secretary Finance informed the meeting that the approval of ECNEC would be obtained and relocation of 4,600 people would be undertaken. Karachi Electric Supply Company announced signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) for exploring the options of providing electricity for Karachi circular railway (KCR) project.
According to a statement issued by the KESC, the signing of MOU will open dialogue between KESC and KUTC for the provision of about 120 megawatts for the project. “ By executing the MoU, the KESC intends to explore the option of supplying electricity to KUTC on best efforts basis for the KCR project and KUTC intends to purchase the same ”.

6 August 2011:
A resettlement plan for the people to be affected by the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway project has been approved by donors and its implementation will begin in the next few months, said the chief of the Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC) on Saturday.
The KUTC chief, Ijaz Khilji, said that the Pakistan Railways had agreed to provide approximately 300 acres near Jumma goth (Near Cattle Colony and Shah Latif Town) where over 4,650 families currently residing on the KCR route would be relocated. Each family would be given an 80-square-yard plot and Rs 50,000.

18 April 2010:
Although the draft final report for Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) study for Karachi Circular Railway has been furnished to JICA on 12 April 2010, the transfer of allocated land for resettlement of Project Affected Persons of Karachi Circular Railway is still awaited.
According to Karachi Urban Transport Corporation sources the transfer of land from Pakistan Railway to KUTC was in process.

3 September 2009:
Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Thursday approved approves Rs 128.60 billons for Karachi Circular Railway System to provide modern transport services to the people, said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira.
Briefing the media persons about the decisions taken by the ECNEC meeting chaired by Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen here, he said the project like Karachi Circular Railway would be expanded to the other major cities of the country.
The Minister said the meeting also decided to conduct third party evaluation of the project costing Rs 128.60 billions with the sole objective to ensure transparency and saving of cost. Qamar Zaman Kaira made it clear the third party evaluation would not affect the overall cost as well as execution of the project.

20 April 2009:
President Asif Ali Zardari approved Karachi Circular Railway plan. This project was approved at a high-level meeting held on 20 April 2009 at the Bilawal House chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari. He said the federal government will provide sovereign guarantee for the Karachi Mass Transit project, which will be built under a BOO scheme. International competitive bids will be invited soon. This plan would be launched immediately. Mustafa Kamal said the Karachi Circular Railway is being revived with a cost of $ 1.6 billion with international assistance. The president desired that the plan must be implemented without further delay and a resettlement plan be immediately prepared for the rehabilitation of the people settled on the way of KCR.

22 September 2008:
Revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) still needs approval of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) even though the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has already approved it.
Well-placed sources in the federal government told on Monday that the CDWP had forwarded the KCR revival plan to the Ecnec.
Physical work on the project could only be started after its approval by the Ecnec, they said, adding that the item was yet to be placed on the Ecnec agenda.

18 September 2008:
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), which met here with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Salman Faruqi in the chair, approved revival of the Karachi Circular Railway project.
The KCR project is expected to be executed in three years at a cost of Rs 52.372 billions with a foreign component of Rs 39.257 billions.
The 50 km railway project will have 21 underpasses and overhead bridges and 23 stations in the city. The Circular Railway would carry 700,000 passengers daily through 246 trains.

4 December 2006:                                                                     
A high level meeting chaired by Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad on Monday approved in principle the revival of Karachi Circular Railway.
According to estimates, the project will cost around one billion dollars, which includes Japanese loan of $872 million. The feasibility of the project will be presented by the JETRO and work will start after its approval by the ECNEC and the Planning Commission.
The meeting was attended by Federal Railway Minister Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, Railway Chairman, Karachi Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, Principal Secretary Mohammed Saleem Khan, D.S. Railway Mir Mohammed Khaskheli and other officials.
The governor urged the authorities to finalise all phases expeditiously and said implementation of the project must start by the beginning of new year and there should be no further delay now.

3 April 2006:
City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal said that first phase of Karachi Circular Railway under the Karachi Mass Transit Programme (KMTP) will be completed by 2010 whereas the work on second phase will start soon. He stated this while talking to a delegation of a German company, Voith Turbos, which manufactures locomotives and train spare parts. The delegation, which arrived here earlier in the day, comprised Dr Ing Manfred Lerch, Holger Costari and Hansjorg Kopp. Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, DCO Fazlur Rehman, Mohammed Ali and Taha Khan were also present at the meeting which was held in the nazim office. Mr Kamal briefed the delegation about the ongoing projects and details of KMTP. The company is interested in the rail project under the Karachi Mass Transit Programme (KMTP) and offers transfer of technology for the manufacturing of these items locally. .

20 December 2005:
A ten-member Japanese team has completed its study for the revival of Karachi Circular Railway and presented its draft report to the government. Addressing a news conference after a meeting with the Japanese team in Karachi today, the Minister of state for Railways Ishaq Khan Khakwani said the Japanese team has proposed two stage work on the project at a cost of eight hundred and thirty million dollars. In the first phase costing 282 millions dollars, the project from City Station to Liaquatabad will be completed by 2010. The second stage costing 548 millions dollars form Liaquatabad to Drigh Road will be ready by 2020. .

7 November 2005:
The Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, here on Saturday approved to set up a corporation for running the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR). According to details, State Minister for Railways Ishaque Khan Khakwani held a meeting with the Sindh chief minister at the CM?s House to discuss matters related to the administration and operation of the KCR. ’s It decided that a corporation, named Karachi Urban Transport Corporation be formed in this regard. It decided that representatives of the federal, provincial and the city governments would be selected as members of this corporation. The company would be set up under the Companies Ordinance 1984 and the federal government would have a 60 per cent stake in it. The remaining 40 per cent ownership would be of the Sindh government. .

31 October 2005:
Japanese experts have completed the initial study pertaining to the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway. This was announced by the city district government in a statement issued on Monday. In a meeting, Japanese delegation apprised City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal of the details of the initial report. Mustafa Kamal asked the delegation that the project pertaining to revival of the Karachi Circular Railway be given the final shape keeping in view the prevailing situation of traffic. .

27 September 2005:
A team of Japanese technical experts has arrived here to conduct a survey of the Karachi Circular Railway for preparing a feasibility report. The team has been dispatched by the Japan External Trade Organization, which is a Japanese government related organization. It is supposed to start the study of the KCR project in a few days and complete the same the end of January next year. .

13 September 2005:
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan asked the authorities to expedite progress on the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway. He also issued directives for the removal of encroachments around the railway tracks and their rehabilitation. He was presiding over a meeting in the Governor’s House, attended among other by State Minister for Railway Ishaq Khakwani..

29 May 2005:
Pakistan Railways extended the KCR route from Wazir Mansion to Landhi and Malir Cantt.

7 April 2005:
Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad visit KCR track by train from City to Gilani station with State Minister for Railways Mr. Khakwani and other officials. Governor said that sindh government is trying to provide funds for KCR and soon government will issue bonds of 3.5 billions rupees for arrange funds for KCR. KCR second phase will complete in 3 months and trains shall start to run from City to Galani Station. .

8 March 2005:
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday formally inaugurated the Karachi Circular Railway and said that a similar mass transit project like the one in Karachi would be started in Lahore. Addressing at the inaugural ceremony, he said that Rs 3.5 billion would be spent for the complete renovation of the circular railway. Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Arbab Rahim, federal and provincial ministers, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan and others were present at the ceremony.
Shaukat Aziz said that Karachi was a metropolis with severe traffic problems and the government wanted to provide cost-effective transport facilities to the masses, therefore, the project for the renovation of the circular railway had been started. He said that the previous governments had neglected the railways department but the present government was paying full attention to it.
In the first phase of the KCR, trains will be run from City Station to Drigh Road Railway Junction after which the whole track in the city would be renovated and the project would be completed in a short span of time. The KCR's revamping, rehabilitation and integration with road transport and Karachi Mass Transit corridors would be done in the first phase.
The second phase includes dualization of KCR loop, extension of KCR to unserved location and electrification infrastructure for train operation. He said the dream had come true as it was just a little over four months when a task force was constituted for the revival of KCR. It had proposed a time table of 18 months to revive the KCR but the government could not wait that long. "Today, my government is fulfilling the long cherished demand of citizens of Karachi," he saidadding that the revival of KCR was his passion as he used to travel by this when he was a student.
Shaukat Aziz said that the government might induct a private operator to operate KCR while the government would provide enabling environment for its operation. After inauguration of the circular railway, the prime minister travelled in the train from City Station to Cantonment Railway Station. Federal ministers and several notables of Karachi also accompanied him in the journey.
Farooq, Ibad praised: The prime minister also appreciated Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and MQM MNA Farooq Sattar for their keen interest in Karachi Circular Railway's revitalization project. He said that they both worked hard to push ahead the project towards finalization.
INCONVENIENCE: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said here Tuesday that he wanted Karachiites to face minimum inconvenience due to traffic jam caused by his movement. Speaking as chief guest at the restart of Karachi Circular Railway, he said both he and President Musharraf fully realize the problem people faced. 

2 March 2005:
The much-awaited operation of the local train, a part of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), is likely to be inaugurated on March 8. Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways, Karachi , Junaid Qureishi told Dawn on Tuesday that the preparations for the operation had been completed and a demonstration would be held on March 4.
"Its formal inauguration will be held on Tuesday (March 8) with the launching of five up and five down trains. The fare has been fixed at Rs 7." He said that a private company had been awarded contract for managing the ticketing system. Initially, the train service would shuttle between Landhi/Malir and the City Station, and in the next phase it would cover other city areas, he added.
Sources in the railway and provincial government identified the private company as M/s Mass Transit (Pvt) Limited, saying that its bid of Rs 3.6 millions per annum, with 10 trains running between the two points, had won it the contract. Each train, comprising six coaches, would have a seating plus standing capacity of 140 passengers. The fare, fixed at Rs 7, would be for any distance between the starting point and the last destination, they added.
The sources said that the railway, in coordination with the transport departments of the Sindh government and CDGK, had started removing encroachment from many parts in the city along the loop of the KCR.
"We faced resistance at some isolated spots, but it's not a major issue. We will remove all the encroachment along the KCR loop as work on it is in progress," said an official. The sources said that KCR tracks had been encroached upon with a mala fide intention by builders' mafia who always eyed the prized land of the railway and wanted the KCR project to be scrapped so that they could construct high-rises on the precious land.

 26 Febuary 2005:
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that the Karachi Circular Railway would be made functional from the next week saying that the facility would be revived on modern lines. He stated this while talking to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) delegation led by Ch. Muhammad Saeed which called on him at Governor's House on Saturday. The governor said, "Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is scheduled to visit here on March 6th or 7th to re-launch Karachi Circular Railways. After making the existing circular system operational, we would go for its upgradation and modernization including conversion into double track system," he added. He said that implementation on a coordinated programme for improving transportation facilities in Karachi and smooth flow of vehicular traffic was also underway. He informed the delegation that six corridors would be built in the city under Karachi Mass Transit Programme and substantial progress had been made on construction of first corridor from Sohrab Goth to Tower on Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

 16 January 2005:
State Minister for Railways, Mr. Khakwani said that 21 coaches to constitute three rakes of the Karachi Circular Railway service were under the process of refurbishment at Mughalpura Workshop, Lahore. The coaches are, at present, being painted and would hopefully be inducted by February 15, or even earlier. The inauguration, however, depends on the preoccupation of the prime minister, he added. According to the minister, in the first phase, the KCR service would be operated between the City Station and Landhi Stations. On this sector, 10 up and down trains would be operated to carry 10,000 passengers every day.
In the second phase, he said, the KCR would connect Baldia, Orangi and Nazimabad with the KCR system. The minister said that the Railway had invited expression of interest (EOI) from out side parties which would facilitate travel between the two points. He said that the Railway had received very good response from four parties which were in touch with the DS Railway for working out terms and conditions of a contract and finalize the same by January.

 3 Jauary 2005:
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday reviewed the status of the multi-million dollars Karachi Mass Transit Project at a high-level meeting held at the Governor's House here on Monday.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Senior (Finance) Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, Planning Minister Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari, Transport Minister Adil Siddiqi, Adviser to the CM on Local Government Waseem Akhtar, MNA Dr Farooq Sattar, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Dr Akram Shaikh and DG Mass Transit Malik Zahirul Islam.
The meeting was informed that an MoU had already been signed by the city government with a foreign company for the construction of the Corridor-I of the Mass Transit programme on BOT basis.
The prime minister said that possibilities be explored for extending the scheme to include the construction of corridors II to VI for a cost-effective mode of mass transit, that should be affordable for commuters, also on BOT basis.
He pointed out that since the project involved a huge investment to be made partly by the executing firm, it could not take off without the federal assistance. Mr Aziz told the meeting that the government keenly desired provision of a fast mode of transport to the people of Karachi.
Besides the mass transit scheme, he said, the government had already decided to revive the Karachi Circular Railway and the initial preparations for its immediate revival were being made by the Railways in collaboration with the provincial government. "Both the federal and Sindh governments are in total agreement over the revival of this project,'' he said.
It may be mentioned here that initially, the Karachi Mass Transit Project was initiated by the city government which has also signed an MoU without taking the federal and provincial governments into confidence.
No company can undertake the project without a sovereign guarantee to be provided by the federal government. Since the KMTP is a public welfare project, the federal and provincial governments came out with help and assistance to move the project ahead.

23 December 2004:
State Minister for Railways, Ishaq Khakwani said on Thursday 'that an independent body, Karachi Urban Transport Corporation (KUTC), would soon be established to run and completely revive the Karachi Circular Railway project.
Initially we will operate this service from City Station to Malir with five trains and we will rehabilitate the route of KCR by removing encroachments on the tracks.
He maintained that around Rs 3.5 billions were required for complete revival of the circular railway and the KUTC would generate this huge amount by floating Municipal Bonds.
Regarding the formation of KUTC, Ishaq Khakwani said that the organization would have full legal cover that the legislation in this regard would be done by the provincial assembly or through an ordinance.
The minister said that the KUTC would be responsible for Mass Transit Services in the city and its project would cover light train, tramway and integrated road network. "The corporation will make such projects, which will reduce pollution.

 17 December 2004:
President Pervez Musharraf pointed out that  Karachi Circular Railway, and the Mass Transit Program would help improve the traffic conditions in the city. He said matters pertaining to the Mass Transit Program were being examined further.
The President said that two choices were available with regard to this project and a decision to this end would be made in the interest of Karachi. The one option is the combination of sub-way and the rail or an overhead mono-rail run through a magnetic system with the latest technology.

 8 December 2004:
Sindh Transport Minister Adil Siddiqui said that KCR start of its operation in January 2005. He also said that from January 2005, the KCR operation would start from Drigh Road to City Station in the first phase and from Orangi Town to SITE and Baldia in the second phase for which all preparations had been finalized. He said that KCR project would be completed in 12 to 18 months at a cost of Rs 3.5 billions.

 6 December 2004:
A report of task force for revival of Karachi Circular Railway was presented to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at a meeting in Islamabad today. It was decided that Karachi Circular Railways will revival from january 2005 and would be operated by an independent corporation jointly owned by Pakistan Railways, Sindh Government and the city government of Karachi. Corporation will talk to banks for loan. Prime Minister also ordered to repair track and coaches.

 20 November 2004:
Task force of revival Karachi Circular Railway prepare report that Karachi Circular Railway could not revival from january 2005 due to bad infrastructure and most of railway crossings of KCR are on busy roads and it is difficult to run KCR trains with railway crossings. But task force advise to Government that work should start from january 2005 and railway crossings should replace with fly over and under passes. Work will complete in 18 months with cost of 6 billions rupees (6 arab rupees).  

16 November 2004
The government has started removing encroachments from the tracks of the Karachi Circular Railway after the decision of the task force to revive the KCR operation by 15 January, sources of the government said here on Tuesday. The Sindh government had prepared an action plan for reviving the KCR service by January. The plan would be submitted at a meeting in Islamabad on Friday

 10 November 2004:
The Sindh Governor, Ishratul Ibad, on Wednesday said all-out efforts were being made for the early revival of the Karachi circular railway, and issues in this regard are being resolved expeditiously.

28 October 2004:
A meeting held Presiding under State Minister for Railways Ishaq Khakwani at Divisional Headquarters Karachi to review the work of the Task Force set up by the prime minister for revival of the Karachi Circular Railway on Thursday decided to revive the KCR by January, 2005.
After meting minister had a trolley inspection of the KCR tracks and other infrastructure facilities, including station buildings etc. He went from the City Station to the Gillani Railway Station in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

 22 October 2004:
Prime Minister Saukat Aziz attend a high level meeting with MNA`s ,City Nazim Karachi Naimatullah Khan, Minister Railways Ishaq Khakwani, and Advisors of Sindh Government in Islamabad on 22 October 2004. It is decide that Karachi Circular Railway will revival quickly and preset infrastructure will use. A task force also prepare for revival Karachi Circular Railway. Karachi Mass Transit also discuss in meting.

 9 October 2004:
Prime Minister Saukat Aziz attend a meeting in governor house with Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Chief Minister Arbab Gulam Rahim and other officials. Prime Minister said to work fast for implement Karachi Mass Transit and Sindh  Government attend a meeting with Railway Minister for revival Karachi  Circular Railway.

 24 September 2004
Governor Sindh Ishrat-ul-Ebad force to revival Karachi Circular Railway operations to safe assets and land of Karachi Circular Railway.

 22 September 2004
Karachi City Government is busy in finalize agreement about Karachi Mass Transit system Sarab Goth to Tin Hatti from China machinery and equipment group and work will start in December 2004.

 20 August 2004:
President Pervez Musharraf has said that the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) must be reactivated apart from the Karachi Mass Transit Program in view of the growing traffic problem in Karachi.
He directed the Sindh government and CDGK to coordinate with the Planning Commission for assessment of the cost and other related issues concerning the KCR.

 11 August 2004:
President Pervez Musharraf attend a high level meeting with Minister for Railways Ghous Bukhsh Maher and other PR officials. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz also attend meeting. Minister for Railways Ghous Bukhsh Maher briefed the president on various improvement and expansion plans of the railways. He also briefed the president on plans for resumption of Karachi Circular Railways.

 16 June 2004:
Sindh government reserved funds 60 millions rupees (60 core rupees) for Karachi Mass Transit plan.

 15 May 2004:
City government of Karachi and China Machinery and Equipment Group sign an agreement. According plan Sarab Goth to Tin Hatti 8 km over head and Tin Hati to Tower 7.2 km under ground double track will build with 14 stations. Plan complete with total cost of 33 billions in 4 years. Chines Company will invest 90 percent of total cost. In next stage work will start in Cantt to Orangi town plan.   

 26 April 2004:
Federal minister of railways Mr. Ghous bux Khan Mehar said in opening ceremony of fast freight train at cantt station Karachi that funds will be reserve for Karachi Circular Railway.

24 March 2004:
The Saudi Engineering Group International sign memorandum of understanding with the City District Government Karachi  revival of a tramway service in the city at a cost of US $ 200 millions. CDGK will enter into an agreement with the Saudi Group on a public transport facility project on built operate and transfer basis for a period of 30 years on a possible route option from Saddar to Burns Road. Saudi Group would provide 100 per cent financing and technical support, including transfer of technology/system to CDGK.

4 March 2004:
Federal minister of railways Mr. Ghous bux Khan Mehar said in opening ceremony of new reservation office in cantt station Karachi that work will start on Karachi Circular Railway in June 2004 first work will do on strength of system and second extension of network . He also said that Sindh Government and City Government also try to success Mass Transit program.