Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday presided over a joint meeting of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), Sindh local government department and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). The meeting approved a Karachi transformation plan aimed at forging a partnership with the FWO to achieve world-class development in the city.
The meeting was held at the CM House and attended by Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Principal Secretary to the CM Agha Wasif, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi and Sindh Finance Secretary Fayyaz Jatoi. The FWO delegation was led by its Director General Major General Abdul Sami.
The CM discussed large-scale development initiatives for Karachi, including mega infrastructure and connectivity projects. At the outset, he stated that the Sindh government intended to implement a comprehensive development plan for Karachi and announced a one-time grant-in-aid of Rs84.796 billion for 523 uplift schemes in the city. He added that approval had been granted for Rs26.282 billion under the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for schemes related to Karachi.
“I want to initiate development projects in partnership with the FWO to ensure quality, speed and transparency,” Murad said, emphasising that all mega and significant projects in the city must have world-class planning and design. Karachi’s development should be on a par with the world’s best cities, he added.
The CM informed the meeting that six priority infrastructure projects worth Rs10.72 billion had been identified for immediate execution under the Karachi division to address chronic traffic congestion, improve connectivity and strengthen urban mobility.
These schemes included the rehabilitation of the road from M-9 to Malir-15 via Jinnah Avenue and Sharea Faisal for Rs1.025 billion, as well as the construction of a right-turn underpass at Malir Halt from the Printing Press to Sharea Faisal for Rs1.5 billion and the construction of a flyover from Airport Road to Star Gate costing Rs1.2 billion to enhance access to the airport.
Other projects included the rehabilitation of the road from Y-Junction to Machli Chowk in Hawkesbay, including damaged sections from the Masroor Base to the Truck Stand, for Rs1.995 billion, and construction of a flyover at Sohrab Goth for Rs5 billion, which would serve as Karachi’s main gateway for intercity traffic.
Briefing the meeting, the local government minister and Karachi mayor stated that Karachi, as Pakistan’s economic hub, faced serious structural, environmental and civic challenges. To tackle these issues, 10 to 12 high-visibility development schemes were being identified, with five already approved by the CM for early implementation.
Furthermore, a comprehensive portfolio of 523 development schemes for Rs84.796 billion had been proposed for Karachi, including the rehabilitation and reconstruction of internally damaged roads across various neighbourhoods, improvements to traffic management systems, rehabilitation of connecting roads, major arteries, flyovers and parks, and beautification of seven designated roads.
Wahab stated that these schemes had been identified through field verification, departmental assessments, and consultations with the stakeholder with the aim of easing traffic congestion, enhancing airport and intercity connectivity, strengthening logistics and industrial transport routes, and improving civic infrastructure and urban aesthetics.
The CM decided that FWO engineers along with officers from the local government department and KMC would collaborate to prepare and finalise the design and identify utilities that needed to be shifted by the end of February, so that work could commence in March.
Murad reiterated the Sindh government’s commitment to transforming Karachi through sustainable, well-designed and efficiently executed development projects, instructing the departments concerned to proceed swiftly in coordination with the FWO and other stakeholders.
