Moin91
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Sunday, August 26, 2007
By Fasahat Mohiuddin
Karachi
Expectations over the arrival of 125 CNG-fitted buses for the city have hit a new low due to the financial instability of a local company in Karachi as the major company in Holland has held up the fleet at the Dubai port, sources revealed on Saturday.
The city government, taking the matter seriously, has issued a three-day notice to the firm to explain its position over the import of these buses which are very crucial in resolving the transport problem of the city. Informed sources told The News that the city government was also looking for other options and wanted to invite some other private firms to get CNG-fitted buses.
The officials of the city government admitted that such a delay may extend as long as six months and eventually the buses would arrive by next year. Sources in the city government said that they have contacted the firm and they are having some problem regarding the letter of credit (LC) with the bank concerned thus firm has stopped the shipment of these buses at the Dubai port.
The officer explained that there were lots of financial implications in this process and, as the bank has developed doubts about the stability of the firm, the whole process would be scrutinised carefully.
These 125 refurbished CNG-fitted buses were expected to arrive in the first week of August. The city government is facilitating the said firm in Karachi under the private-public partnership scheme and has exempted it from customs duty as well.
The CDGK had also contacted the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to arrange CNG filling stations for these buses. The city government has more than six depots in Karachi at its disposal and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had plans to utilise these CNG stations with their parking place to accommodate the fleet of CNG buses.
This delay in arrival of the buses will also cause a delay in handing over of these stations as two of the depots are currently under Rangers administration. The city government has also handed over two depots to the said private firm to establish CNG stations but the firm has not yet started the process.
Disappointed with the situation, the Nazim is looking for alternatives. He had promised the Karachiites, at a number of press conferences, that over 8,000 CNG-fitted buses will be imported to resolve the transport issue in Karachi. The city government had also invited tenders to establish CNG stations and some 33 firms have sent their proposal. The city government is yet to finalise the bids as these proposals have not been scrutinised thus far.
For a city that already faces serious transport problems, the current situation will deliver a shattering blow to the hopes of the citizens. The city requires at least 2,500 buses while only 900 buses are on the roads.
In the meant time, the DCO Karachi, Javed Hanif has claimed that 15 CNG-fitted buses have arrived at the Karachi port and they will be operational very soon. The DCO said that he was not aware of the LC complications with the firm.
Karachi will have to wait a little longer
By Fasahat Mohiuddin
Karachi
Expectations over the arrival of 125 CNG-fitted buses for the city have hit a new low due to the financial instability of a local company in Karachi as the major company in Holland has held up the fleet at the Dubai port, sources revealed on Saturday.
The city government, taking the matter seriously, has issued a three-day notice to the firm to explain its position over the import of these buses which are very crucial in resolving the transport problem of the city. Informed sources told The News that the city government was also looking for other options and wanted to invite some other private firms to get CNG-fitted buses.
The officials of the city government admitted that such a delay may extend as long as six months and eventually the buses would arrive by next year. Sources in the city government said that they have contacted the firm and they are having some problem regarding the letter of credit (LC) with the bank concerned thus firm has stopped the shipment of these buses at the Dubai port.
The officer explained that there were lots of financial implications in this process and, as the bank has developed doubts about the stability of the firm, the whole process would be scrutinised carefully.
These 125 refurbished CNG-fitted buses were expected to arrive in the first week of August. The city government is facilitating the said firm in Karachi under the private-public partnership scheme and has exempted it from customs duty as well.
The CDGK had also contacted the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) to arrange CNG filling stations for these buses. The city government has more than six depots in Karachi at its disposal and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had plans to utilise these CNG stations with their parking place to accommodate the fleet of CNG buses.
This delay in arrival of the buses will also cause a delay in handing over of these stations as two of the depots are currently under Rangers administration. The city government has also handed over two depots to the said private firm to establish CNG stations but the firm has not yet started the process.
Disappointed with the situation, the Nazim is looking for alternatives. He had promised the Karachiites, at a number of press conferences, that over 8,000 CNG-fitted buses will be imported to resolve the transport issue in Karachi. The city government had also invited tenders to establish CNG stations and some 33 firms have sent their proposal. The city government is yet to finalise the bids as these proposals have not been scrutinised thus far.
For a city that already faces serious transport problems, the current situation will deliver a shattering blow to the hopes of the citizens. The city requires at least 2,500 buses while only 900 buses are on the roads.
In the meant time, the DCO Karachi, Javed Hanif has claimed that 15 CNG-fitted buses have arrived at the Karachi port and they will be operational very soon. The DCO said that he was not aware of the LC complications with the firm.
Karachi will have to wait a little longer
