KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government, Housing and Town Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that development projects worth more than Rs2 trillion are currently underway in Karachi, with several nearing completion while others are at the initial stage.
He noted that the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) is assisting in the execution of multiple projects, while development work is in progress on nearly 140 roads across the city.
Speaking at a meeting with industrialists at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) on Saturday, Shah said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has allocated Rs9 billion in development funds for Karachi’s business community, including Rs2 billion specifically for the Korangi Industrial Area.
Shah said that water supply to KATI would be improved on a priority basis. He noted that Karachi receives water from a source located nearly 200 kilometres away, making supply management a significant challenge. He added that the Sindh government is acting on KATI’s proposals regarding Pumping Station-II (PS-2) for the Korangi Industrial Area.
He also stated that a garbage transfer station (GTS) is being developed on the causeway in line with international standards, including Pakistan’s first mechanised landfill facility. The Sindh government, he said, is working with international organisations to mitigate the impacts of climate change through various initiatives.
Discussing the Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit project, Shah said the Sindh chief minister and Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon have proposed increasing the number of buses and improving urban infrastructure through the allocated project funds, instead of constructing a dedicated corridor that could worsen traffic congestion. He acknowledged that the Sindh government has reservations regarding the current design of the Yellow Line project.
The minister further announced that a committee comprising officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) has been formed to resolve issues relating to Mehran Town. The committee, in consultation with KATI, will prepare recommendations for granting industrial status to the area.
Highlighting Karachi’s economic importance, Shah described the city as the “economic lifeline” of Pakistan. He said that despite perceptions that provinces gained extensive authority after the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the NFC Award, Karachi and Sindh received only limited allocations under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) between 2013 and 2018, with only 3-4 per cent of promised projects executed and just 1-2 per cent completed, according to his statement. He alleged that the federal government largely neglected Sindh, particularly Karachi, during this period.
He added that while some projects were approved in 2022, Sindh was simultaneously hit by two major natural disasters that damaged nearly 70 per cent of the province’s infrastructure, forcing the provincial government to redirect resources towards reconstruction and development.
Shah also expressed confidence that the PPP, which received increased public support in the last general elections, would achieve a sweeping victory in Sindh in the 2029 elections.
Earlier, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput praised the Sindh government, particularly the local government and urban development department, for completing Shahrah-e-Bhutto and several other development projects in Korangi. He said these initiatives represent a major step forward in improving Karachi’s infrastructure, urban development and economic activity.
Rajput said major infrastructure projects such as Shahrah-e-Bhutto would help reduce traffic congestion, improve connectivity and create new opportunities for industrial areas, businesses and residents.
He identified water scarcity as one of the most pressing challenges facing industries in Korangi. Due to insufficient water supply from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, industrial units are forced to rely on costly water tankers, significantly increasing production costs and undermining the competitiveness and sustainability of local industries.
He urged the authorities to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted water supply to industrial areas on a priority basis in order to support investment, industrial growth and exports.
Rajput also welcomed the Sindh government’s decision to allocate Rs2.1 billion for development projects in the Korangi Industrial Area, describing it as a positive initiative. However, he noted that the area’s infrastructure challenges are extensive and that additional funding will still be required.
