{"id":15151,"date":"2026-04-23T18:50:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T18:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=15151"},"modified":"2026-04-23T18:50:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T18:50:42","slug":"ptis-arsalan-khalid-slams-red-line-brt-delays-project-cost-rockets-past-rs-140-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?p=15151","title":{"rendered":"PTI\u2019s Arsalan Khalid Slams Red Line BRT Delays; Project Cost Rockets Past Rs. 140 Billion"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"model-response-message-contentr_e9cc960a6205bdf9\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel enable-updated-hr-color\" dir=\"ltr\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-busy=\"false\">\n<p data-path-to-node=\"1\"><b data-path-to-node=\"1\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">KARACHI (HRNW):<\/b> Arsalan Khalid, the General Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Karachi Division, has expressed serious concerns over the continuous delays, skyrocketing costs, and poor performance regarding the Red Line BRT project. Speaking to the media after visiting the project site, he stated that the venture\u2014originally slated for completion in 2024\u2014remains unfinished in 2026, highlighting the severe incompetence of relevant authorities.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\"><b data-path-to-node=\"2\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Escalating Costs and Lack of Transparency:<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\">Khalid pointed out a massive surge in the project&#8217;s budget, demanding an explanation for the public:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"3\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Initial Budget:<\/b> Rs. 79 billion.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">First Revision:<\/b> Increased to Rs. 103 billion.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Current Status:<\/b> The cost has now crossed the <b data-path-to-node=\"3,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"45\">Rs. 140 billion<\/b> mark.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3,2,0\">He questioned where the additional billions were spent and called for a transparent audit of the funds.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\"><b data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Impact on Citizens and Local Economy:<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\">The PTI leader emphasized the hardships faced by the residents of Karachi due to the prolonged construction on University Road:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"5\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Traffic Woes:<\/b> Constant excavation has paralyzed the traffic system, affecting students, commuters, and business professionals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Economic Losses:<\/b> Local businesses have suffered significantly, and daily life in the vicinity has been completely disrupted for years.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"6\"><b data-path-to-node=\"6\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Technical Failures and International Concerns:<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"6\">Arsalan Khalid further alleged that the project faced months of suspension due to financial and technical disputes with contractors. He noted that:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"7\">\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,0,0\">One segment of the contract was terminated due to poor performance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\">The <b data-path-to-node=\"7,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"4\">Asian Development Bank (ADB)<\/b> has reportedly expressed reservations regarding the project&#8217;s quality, pace of work, and safety standards.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Demand for Inquiry:<\/b><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"8\">The PTI General Secretary demanded an immediate, transparent, and impartial inquiry into the Red Line project. He insisted that those responsible for the criminal negligence and financial mismanagement be held accountable and brought before the public.<\/p>\n<hr data-path-to-node=\"9\" \/>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10\"><b data-path-to-node=\"10\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Stand with us for the protection of human rights!<\/b> Support the world\u2019s No. 1 human rights news portal, <b data-path-to-node=\"10\" data-index-in-node=\"102\">HRNW (Human Rights News Worldwide)<\/b>. Our mission is to amplify the voice of the oppressed and strive for justice globally.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"11\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">To support our cause and contribute, please visit:<\/b> <a class=\"ng-star-inserted\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?page_id=1083\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hveid=\"0\" data-ved=\"0CAAQ_4QMahgKEwjt3PSdz4SUAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQqQE\">https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/?page_id=1083<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_15151\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"15151\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hrnww.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>KARACHI (HRNW): Arsalan Khalid, the General Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Karachi Division, has expressed serious concerns over the continuous delays, skyrocketing costs, and poor performance regarding the Red Line BRT project. Speaking to the media after visiting the project site, he stated that the venture\u2014originally slated for completion in 2024\u2014remains unfinished in 2026, highlighting&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_15151\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"15151\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 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