Karachi: Amidst Punjab’s advancement in public transportation, Altaf Shakoor, Chairman of the Pasban Democratic Party (PDP), has called on the Sindh government to reinstate the historic tram system in Karachi. This appeal follows the initiation of a tram service in Lahore by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, highlighting a disparity in transportation development between the two cities.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, Shakoor praised Lahore’s upcoming tram service while noting that Karachi had its own tram system as early as 1883, decades before Pakistan’s independence, which was unfortunately discontinued in 1975 under unclear circumstances. He criticized the Sindh government’s neglect of Karachi’s public transport needs, contrasting it with Punjab’s progressive measures under Chief Minister Sharif.

Shakoor detailed the benefits of trams, describing them as efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly with a higher passenger capacity compared to buses. He advocated for trams as an ideal solution for the congested downtown areas of Karachi, suggesting a reduction in bus and minibus traffic to ease congestion. Additionally, he lamented the failure to revive the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) and urged Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to draw lessons from Punjab’s successes to better address Karachi’s commuting challenges.