[3] Since 2001, several restart attempts were sought and in November 2020, the KCR partially revived operations on the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan.

[7] Revival efforts of KCR had been proposed several times since becoming defunct in 1999 and remained unfulfilled mainly due to lack of financial and political backing.

27.9 billion (US$97 million) restoration package for the KCR,[8] however delays and disputes with the Sindh provincial government ultimately led to the cancellation of the funding.

KCR Operations began in 1964 under the administration of Pakistan Railways, with the aims to provide better transportation facilities to Karachi's growing population and outlying surrounding suburban communities.

Throughout the 1970s, track was further extended westwards and northwards towards North Nazimabad, forming a "loop line" which circled around several of Karachi's residential and industrial areas.

[13] The official reason for the discontinuation was that Pakistan Railways was said to be making a loss by running the trains all over the city with few passengers taking advantage of the facility.

Another version suggests that private transporters conspired with some corrupt staffers in the railways to fulfill their desire to bag the bulk of passengers for themselves[14] The result caused instant gridlock on Karachi's streets.

Severe criticisms were lodged at Pakistan Railways mismanagement as well as Karachi's "road transport mafia".

The following is a timeline of statements made by several politicians over the past 15 years, all of whom boldly gave start dates for the KCR project.