Murad orders acceleration of work on road projects across Sindh

Karachi/Hyderabad: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday presided over a joint meeting with officials of the planning & development, finance, and works & services departments to review progress in ongoing development works across the province.

The meeting held at the CM House was attended by Provincial Minister for Planning & Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Works Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Principal Secretary to the CM Agha Wasif, Planning & Development Board Chairman Najam Shah, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, Works Secretary Muhammad Ali Khoso, Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero and others.

The meeting reviewed progress in the Coastal Highway scheme. The CM said that during his recent visit to Thatta, citizens urged faster progress in the project. The works department informed the CM that the 36-kilometre-long highway was in the preliminary phase of groundwork.

The project is being jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments on a 50:50 basis. The CM directed the works department to expedite the project, emphasising its importance in facilitating traffic and protecting coastal areas from sea intrusion.

The meeting was told that a development scheme worth Rs5 billion was under way for the construction of roads in the SITE industrial estate. So far, Rs500 million had been released, and tenders completed.

The CM instructed the officials concerned that work be accelerated to ensure completion of the project in the coming fiscal year. It was said that under the prime minister’s programme, reconstruction of 1,800 schools damaged by floods was in progress. These schools were being rebuilt through 50:50 funding from the Sindh and federal governments. A total allocation of Rs12 billion had been made for the project, and tenders finalised.

The CM said funds should be released immediately to begin the construction. A key road project connecting Rohri to Guddu Barrage via Kanpur Mehr, Mirpur Mathelo, and Murid Sheikh spans 150 kilometres with an estimated cost of Rs. 18.8 billion. The meeting was told that the project’s tender had been completed. The CM ordered the release of Rs5 billion for the project for the current year.

The meeting also discussed the dualisation of the 31.40-kilometre Tando Allahyar–Tando Adam with a cost of Rs9.2 billion. The CM was informed that the tender process had been completed, and work was set to begin. The CM allocated Rs1 billion for the project for the current fiscal year and instructed immediate release of funds to initiate construction.

The CM emphasised the need for timely completion of all these development projects, highlighting their importance in improving infrastructure, connectivity and public welfare across the province.

Death anniversary

The CM also visited his native village in Sehwan tehsil on Monday. Speaking to the media, he said he had come to the grave of his late father and former CM Syed Abdullah Shah on the occasion of his 18th death anniversary.

“I prayed for his forgiveness, and I also prayed for myself, that I may serve the public selflessly by following in his footsteps,” he said. Commenting on recent political developments, the CM said Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had announced a public gathering in Hyderabad on April 18, in which people would participate enthusiastically.

In response to questions, he said he did not know who had given the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Azam Swati the mandate for negotiations. “However, we want the PTI members to stop their current style of politics and adopt positive politics, and act seriously in the interest of the country and the nation.”

Shah said the PPP would not allow any canals to be constructed under any circumstances. “Our case is strong, and no one can reject our stance. Bilawal Bhutto has also clearly said that if anything like this happens, he will stand with the people, not with the federal government.”

Regarding the law and order situation, the CM said the Sindh government would further improve the civic conditions in Sehwan. When asked about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the CM said he was surprised by the party’s statement as it reminded him of the era of 1980s and 1990s.

Earlier, the CM arrived in Wahur to attend the 18th death anniversary event of his father. He visited the grave of his late father and offered Fateha. Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah, former MNA Sikandar Rahpoto, Public Health Engineering Secretary Syed Ejaz Ali Shah, Muhammad Saleem Bajari, Amanullah Shahani, Sardar Hakim Khan Nohani, Makhdoom Zamir, Syed Asif Ali Shah, Divisional Director of Information Hyderabad Shehzad Sheikh, Deputy Commissioner Jamshoro Ghazanfar Ali Qadri, Deputy Commissioner Syed Ali Murtaza Shah, Jamshoro SSP Muhammad Zafar Siddiq Chhanga and others accompanied the CM during his visit to Sehwan.