France to co-finance Karachi BRT with ADB, AIIB and GCF
The French Agency for Development (AFD) has offered a soft loan of 65 million euros to Pakistan for the Karachi bus rapid transit (BRT) project. The mass transit system will introduce over 200 eco-friendly buses to offer the people of Karachi an improved, safe and reliable public transport system.
Noor Ahmed, Secretary of Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Ambassador of France Marc Barety, Ambassador of France, and AFD country director Philippe Steinmetz signed the credit financing agreement worth €65 million to co-finance the Karachi BRT project together with Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment bank (AIIB) and Green Climate Fund (GCF).
AFD, Sindh transport and mass transit department, Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) and TransKarachi earlier signed the agreement for the implementation of the project called ‘Karachi Breeze‘.
The transport project will be one of the very first collaborative operations for AIIB and GCF in Pakistan on urban development.
French government, through the French Agency for Development, is also providing technical and financial support of 850 million euros to Pakistan’s energy and urban development sectors.
Eco-friendly project
The project involves several climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. The 200 buses of the Karachi Breeze Red Line will be powered by biomethane technology which will help cut carbon dioxide emissions and pollution to make city greener and cleaner. The project would also include the transition of the existing bus sector into the new system
BRT cost
The estimated cost of the Breeze BRT project is US$493.51 million, including US$235 million by ADB and €65 million by France’s AFD while the Sindh government would provide US$75.5 million.
Karachi Breeze project
- Offer improved transport service in one of largest cities in the world, and Pakistan’s financial and economic hub.
- The 26.6-km bus service aims will cover the main Red Line corridor from Numaish to Malir Halt Depot.
- The mass transport system will directly benefit 1.5 million people and improve the commuting experience in Pakistan’s densely populated city with the worst traffic congestion
- The bus service to offer a reliable, efficient, affordable and environment-friendly mode of transport to the residents of Karachi city.