KARACHI: The government of Turkey has expressed willingness to assist in installing a tram service at M.A. Jinnah Road and I.I. Chundrigar Road in Karachi.
Turkish Consul General Mr Tolga Ucak held a meeting with Administrator Iftikhar Ali Shallwani at Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) office and offered support for the project.
Shallwani expressed gratitude to the Turkish consul general for his support to provide better transport facilities to the people of Karachi.
The administrator said the tram service will restore the historical status of Karachi. He said efforts are made to once again made Karachi a tourist hotspot like Istanbul.
The Turkish city of Istanbul is also known for tram service and Karachi could similarly benefit owing to the tram service on the pattern of Istanbul, he added.
Shallwani said there was a need to bring a cheaper and faster transport system and agreed to introduce the tram service at Karachi’s two busiest arteries M.A. Jinnah Road and I.I. Chundrigar Road.
The Turkish consul general also offered their support for uplifting of libraries in Karachi and said his government was ready to fully cooperate in this regard.
“Turkey is our brother Islamic country and both the countries have exemplary relations,” Shallwani said. He also thanked him for supporting to start the tram service and uplifting of libraries in the city.
The administrator said that the Supreme Court had already passed directives to run tram service in Karachi, adding that the historical reputation of the city would be restored after operating the tram service.
He said that efforts were being made to make Karachi a centre for tourists like Istanbul and the cooperation of Turkish government in this regard was highly commendable.
Earlier, the administrator welcomed the Turkish diplomat and discussed matters of mutual interest. The consul general also congratulated Shallwani on taking charge as administrator of Karachi.