Karachi Mayor Halts Rs6bn Green Line BRT Extension, Demands Local Authority Control

KARACHI | September 22, 2025

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has put a stop to the Rs6 billion federally funded Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension project, sparking a fresh tussle between the city administration and the federal government.

Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, backed by the Sindh government, has challenged the role of the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (PIDCL), insisting that all development projects in Karachi should be handled by local agencies instead of federal companies.

Why the Project Was Halted

According to KMC officials, the PIDCL failed to secure a fresh No Objection Certificate (NOC) before restarting work on the Green Line extension from Numaish intersection to Municipal Park near Jama Cloth Market.

“The previous NOC issued in 2017 is not valid forever. PIDCL must obtain fresh approval,” a KMC spokesperson said.

Mayor Wahab also demanded that infrastructure damaged during the first phase of the project — completed over three years ago — be repaired before further work continues.

Mayor Wahab: “Karachi Projects Should Be Executed Locally”

Speaking to the media, Mayor Wahab made it clear that he wants to “minus PIDCL” from Karachi’s development altogether.

“Any project in Karachi — even if funded by the federal government — should be executed through local agencies,” he said.
He added:

• Town-specific projects should be handled by town administrations.

• Citywide projects should be executed by the KMC.

“We are the ones answerable to citizens. Most people don’t even know who runs PIDCL, but they question us,” he argued.

Federal Government’s Response

So far, the federal government has not formally responded to KMC’s objections. Sources said PIDCL maintains that the 2017 NOC is still valid, making Karachi’s demand for a new one “irrelevant.”

While PIDCL officials had agreed to hold talks with the mayor last week, no follow-up meeting has taken place yet.

The Bigger Picture

Mayor Wahab stressed that his stance is not against federal funding but against lack of coordination and transparency. He highlighted how, in contrast, the Red Line BRT project being run by the Sindh government allows him direct oversight.

“I can question delays in Red Line meetings, but in the case of PIDCL’s Green Line, I’m left in the dark — yet still held accountable by citizens,” he said.

With the city administration standing firm and the federal side showing little urgency, the Green Line BRT extension remains suspended, leaving Karachi commuters in uncertainty.