KARACHI — The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has officially opened an inquiry into the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Yellow Line project, targeting suspected financial irregularities and mismanagement that have stalled the multi-billion rupee transport scheme.
Investigators are scrutinizing procurement processes, fund allocations, and contract awards linked to the project. The move follows persistent complaints regarding ballooning project costs and the failure of relevant authorities to meet repeated construction deadlines.
For years, the Yellow Line has existed mostly on paper and in half-finished concrete segments. Residents of the city’s eastern corridor, who were promised a modern transit link connecting Dawood Chowrangi to Numaish, have instead faced years of gridlock, dust, and broken promises. The project’s stalled status has become a symbol of the city’s crumbling infrastructure.
Sources within the bureau confirmed that officials have begun requesting detailed records from the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) and the contractors involved. The inquiry aims to determine whether public funds were siphoned off through inflated billings or if systemic corruption led to the prolonged delays.
The Yellow Line was originally conceived as a critical artery for Karachi’s transport network, designed to move 150,000 passengers daily. Yet, despite international funding commitments and various provincial government pledges, the physical work on the ground remains fragmented.
“We are looking into how the money was spent versus what was actually delivered,” a senior NAB official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The gaps in the financial reporting are significant.”
The provincial government has previously blamed inflation and federal funding delays for the project’s stagnation. However, the intervention by the country’s top anti-graft watchdog suggests that these administrative hurdles may be masking deeper issues of financial malpractice.
As NAB deepens its probe, the future of the Yellow Line now hinges on whether investigators can untangle the web of contracts that have left Karachi’s commuters stranded. For now, the heavy machinery remains idle, and the accountability process is just beginning.
