Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that the country’s progress was linked to that of Karachi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), he said, “If Karachi develops, Pakistan will develop.”

Stressing the need for ‘collaboration’ between the Center and the Sindh government for the resolution of issues confronting people of the city and completion of development projects, PM Imran said people were ready to invest their money in Bundle Island project. “This is my request to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to think about contributing to the project since it will be of benefit for the province,” he said.

He said he hoped the provincial government would also lend a helping hand for the swift completion of the KCR, which was worth Rs200 billion project.

He recalled that there was a time when the port city was developing. “And right at that time, seeds of ‘discontent’ were sown, which ultimately resulted in riots and chaos in the city,” he said, and added that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government had drawn up Karachi’s transformation plan.

Acknowledging that water shortage was the second most important issue for residents of the city, the prime minister told the gathering that he had already received a briefing on it.

PM Imran said Karachi had already expanded much. “And it was high time that we started thinking on how to control this expansion as well as the problems arising out of it,” he asserted.  

He said Ravi City project had been launched to save Lahore from the hazards of expansion. “Furthermore, the project will also attract billions of rupees investment,” he hoped.