Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Friday laid the foundation stone of a road construction and rehabilitation project from Pehlwan Goth Road to Habib University and up to Race Course Road, Safoora in District East.
On this occasion, Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, KMC City Council Parliamentary Leader Karamullah Waqasi, Deputy Parliamentary Leader Dil Muhammad, elected representatives, and other officials were also present.
Addressing the ceremony, Wahab said that this project to improve traffic corridors in District East is an important step toward strengthening the city’s infrastructure. He said that once the project is completed, traffic flow in the area will improve and citizens will benefit from better travel facilities.
He said that under the project, a dual-track road approximately 4.26 kilometers long will be constructed from Pehlwan Goth Road to Safoora. The project includes a 36-foot-wide modern road, along with a modern drainage system for rainwater disposal and the installation of sewerage lines to effectively address the issue of water accumulation in the area.
He further stated that pipelines of different diameters are being laid to improve the sewerage system. The project will also include modern street lighting, with more than 200 electricity poles and LED lights to be installed so that traffic movement remains safe and smooth even at night.
The mayor said the completion of this project will provide significant relief to residents of Safoora and surrounding areas and help reduce traffic pressure in District East. He added that development projects aimed at improving roads and infrastructure across the city will continue in phases to provide better facilities for the citizens of Karachi.
Wahab said hundreds of thousands of people live in the Pehlwan Goth area, and the deteriorated condition of the main road had been a longstanding issue for residents. With the support of the chief minister and the provincial minister for local government, the construction of drains, sewerage lines, and a five-lane dual carriageway road in Pehlwan Goth is being carried out by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation at a cost of around Rs1.6 billion.
He said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is taking practical steps to fulfill the promises made to the public. He added that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project on University Road had also caused traffic issues, creating difficulties for citizens. To provide relief to residents of Gulistan-e-Johar, work is also underway on another project under which a new road is being constructed near Chakora Nala.
According to him, development work in the city is progressing rapidly in line with the manifesto of the Pakistan Peoples Party, and Rs46 billion will be spent on development projects in the city, while the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will spend approximately Rs 70 billion this year on Karachi’s infrastructure.
The Mayor thanked the President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Faryal Talpur, saying that with their support and guidance, large-scale development work is being carried out in Karachi.
He said that some people, out of political bias, create the impression that no work is being done in the city. In reality, development work is being carried out by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and elected representatives of the Pakistan Peoples Party, while in some places banners of other political parties are put up.
He said citizens will clearly see the results of development projects this year. Moreover, the Munawar Chowrangi and Karimabad underpass projects are being constructed by the Karachi Development Authority, and the Karimabad Underpass will be opened for traffic immediately after Eid al-Fitr.
Commenting on political matters, he said that members of Jamaat-e-Islami were displaying a high level of hypocrisy. He added that carrying out development work in a large city like Karachi is not easy, but currently projects are underway in all 25 towns and seven districts of the city.
