Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said a new batch of buses meant for Karachi’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has been held up at Karachi Port for around two months due to a tax-related disagreement.
The minister claimed that the Sindh govt is being charged an 18% duty while Punjab paid a significantly lower rate for a similar purchase.
Speaking to the media, Memon confirmed that the provincial government is in talks with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to resolve the issue.
He said the buses ordered by Sindh match Punjab’s procurement in specifications and capacity, and argued the same concession should apply. “The matter is being followed up daily,” he added.
During a review of the BRT Red Line project, Memon said the scheme had earlier faced the risk of being halted after costs surged due to inflation, economic slowdown, a weaker rupee, and rising input prices, including cement. He called the decision to continue “difficult,” but said it was ultimately the right move.
He described the Red Line as a long-term investment designed to serve Karachi for decades, particularly as the city’s traffic and population continue to grow.
Memon also said the vast majority of spending has gone into infrastructure rather than buses, and maintained that delays in certain stretches were due to genuine implementation challenges, not wrongdoing. He added that the Sindh government is monitoring progress directly.
On project timelines, the minister said officials have been directed to address issues on surrounding roads before Eid. He stated that a 2.7-kilometre section affected by the K-IV Augmentation pipeline is expected to be completed by April, while work on University Road and Jinnah Avenue should wrap up within the next two to three months. However, he acknowledged some related works could take another year and a half.
He also shared an update on another transport facility on Shahrah-e-Bhutto, saying it is expected to be completed up to Quaidabad by late March or early April, with a later extension planned towards the M-9 motorway.
Memon said contractor disputes on the Red Line were settled through negotiations and resulted in savings for the province, adding that demands were reviewed rather than accepted at face value to maintain transparency. He also noted that blue rickshaws are operating under court orders and that station designs have been adjusted accordingly.