Supreme Court (SC) on Friday summoned Federal Secretaries Finance and Planning & Development and ordered Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) to appear in person after the court was informed about the issues between federal and Sindh governments over revival of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR). Federal and Sindh governments couldn't make any headway on Karachi Circular Railway's revival even after making it part of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), SC was informed.
Officials of Planning & Development Department Sindh informed a three-member bench of SC headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed at Karachi Registry that it has been principally decided to make KCR's revival part of CPEC. Pakistan and China would ink an agreement on the project once Federal and Sindh governments sorted out the issues related to the projects, which have not been resolved so far, Sindh government officials told the bench.
Provincial government submitted that the task related to revival of the project needed time, at which bench summoned Federal Secretaries Finance and Planning & Development as well as Attorney General of Pakistan in the next hearing of the case, which would be held after two weeks. Sindh government officials informed the bench about the steps taken for revival of KCR so far and told that 38 acres of land of KCR have been retrieved.
Justice Gulzar ordered the concerned authorities to produce videos about the revival work in the court and said that details of measures to be taken in future should be presented on slides and videos. "I would personally visit the work on the ground based on these videos," Justice Gulzar Ahmed declared.
Earlier, Sindh government submitted a report in the court, which explained that revival of old track of KCR is not viable as track of green lines bus project has occupied the old track of KCR. Report stated that new track of KCR would be more advantageous than the older one as a big loop has
to be developed due to green line bus track. Report revealed that revival of KCR on new track would cater to the need of 600,000 commuters. Meanwhile, SC bench gave concerned authorities two months time to inspect sea breeze plaza at MA Jinnah Road Karachi. Court ordered Sindh Building Control Authority (SCBA), Nespak, Pakistan Engineering Council and Karachi Cantonment Board to work together for the inspection process.
Court asked all the departments to cooperate and conduct an examination of the building to ascertain whether the building is dangerous or not and if its structure was sustainable. Court directed that detailed report should be submitted in the court after two months. SCBA and Cantonment Board submitted their report and submitted that orders of the bench have been complied with regarding Sea Breeze Plaza.
SCBA report pointed out that building was constructed in accordance with the rules and regulations, which are required to be followed to keep the structure safe in case of earthquake. "Building would collapse if earthquake struck the area," report stated.