The Chinese companies would be provided many facilities along with exemption of import duty to run CNG buses in Karachi on BOT basis. This was stated by the Karachi City Nazim Naimatullah Khan while speaking at an inaugural ceremony of the Euro II and Euro III-Technology CNG buses of Homeland Transport Company, here on Sunday. He said that there is need of 10,000 CNG and people-friendly buses to solve the transport problem in Karachi and the companies and transporters operating such buses would be provided all necessary facilities by the CDGK.
Naimatullah Khan said that rise in pollution in the city is a major cause of spread of diseases and added that more than 20-year old buses are running in the city which should be replaced with the new and CNG-fitted people-friendly vehicles.
The Commercial Counsellor of China in Karachi, Sao Qingmao said that the "Ankai" and "Ashaan" buses are people & environment-friendly and according to requirements of the people of Pakistan.
He expressed hope that the Chinese buses would run at the roads of Karachi soon.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Executive of the Homeland Transport Company, Nazir Haji Usman said that HTC has accepted the challenges of the new era and were introducing in Pakistan "Ankai" and "Ashaan" buses of Euro-II and Euro-III standards with unique features and specifications conforming to the ecological requirements of the country.
He said that these buses have been manufactured on CHLM (carriage hold loading mould) basis which are humanistic and in accordance with the Pakistan road conditions, adding they also have low running and maintenance cost.
Muhammad Yamin, Director Corporate Planning HTC, said that it was time to change and shift to civilised standards of public transport system, discarding smoke-emitting health hazards and death traps that treat the city roads as hunting grounds.
Director Marketing and Sales HTC, Zahoor Khan Afghan, DDO Public Transport and Management Operation, Muhammad Athar, Adviser to City Nazim on Transport, Muhammad Tufail, Secretary RTA, Shamim Akhtar, officers of transport department and transporters were also present on the occasion.