Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has initiated the third phase of the provincial government’s drive to develop Karachi, particularly its underprivileged and industrial areas like Lyari, Korangi and Korangi Industrial Area where development schemes worth around Rs4 billion have been kicked off.
On Sunday morning, the CM, along with Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Adviser on Information Murtaza Wahab, the Karachi Package project director (PD) and other officers concerned visited different localities of the city where development works are in progress.
Shah started his visit from Shaheed-e-Millat Road where two underpasses are to be constructed. The first underpass will be constructed at Hyder Ali Chowrangi along Shaheed-e-Millat Road with a cost of Rs658.19 million. The underpass, which will be 445 metres (m) long, is scheduled to be constructed in six months.
The other underpass will be constructed along Shaheed-e-Millat Road at its intersection with Tariq Road. Its length will be 545m and its estimated cost is Rs524.26 million. Both the underpasses are scheduled to be completed in six months; however, the CM directed the PD, Niaz Soomro, to complete them in four months.
Shah also directed the DIG traffic to make necessary traffic arrangements because some portions of Shaheed-e-Millat Road will be closed during the construction of the underpasses. After visiting Shaheed-e-Millat Road, the CM went to Korangi Industrial Area where the construction of a road from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Dawood Chowrangi has been initiated. This road is known as 8,000 Road. Work on this nine-kilometre road was started at a cost of Rs1.2 billion.
The CM directed the PD to construct damaged portions of the storm drain in the area and clean it completely. Shah told the PD to carry out the reconstruction of 8000 road keeping in view the Yellow Line Bus Rapid Transit project, which would be initiated on the road with the support of World Bank.
Later, the CM visited 12000 Road in Korangi where an intersection bridge at Korangi No 5 is to be constructed. The bridge would be completed at a cost of Rs330.43 million in six months and it will be 460m long.
Shah observed that high-tension cables were passing through the intersection bridge area. He told the PD to make arrangements to shift those cables. From there, the CM arrived in Korangi No 2½ where an overhead bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs330.43 million. The project is 460m long and it will also have a 8.3-metre-long carriageway.
Shah also went to Lyari where he inspected under-construction roads surrounding Lea Market. The total length of the roads is 14.64 km and they will be constructed at a cost of Rs454.2 million. The entire area would also be illuminated with lighting towers at designated places.
The roads being constructed surrounding Lea Market include 1.63km-long Shah Waliullah Road that will be constructed at a cost of Rs14 million, 2.51km Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road at Rs15 million, 1.13km Pitcher Road at Rs11 million, 0.34km Mohammad Ali Alvi Road at Rs13 million, 1.37km Mohammad Shah Road at Rs16 million, 1.36km Siddique Wahab Road at Rs15 million, 1.54km Napier Road at Rs17 million, 1.8km Nawab Mahbat Khanji Road at 14 million, 0.59km Sheedi Village Road at Rs13 million, 2km Old Dhobighat Road at Rs12 million, 0.15km Bhimpura Road at Rs13 million and 2km Chakiwara Road that will be built at a cost of Rs15 million.
The CM concluded his visit at Kikri Ground in Lyari where he played cricket with supporters of the Pakistan Peoples Party amid slogans of Jeay Bhutto, Jeay Bilawal Bhutto and Jeay Murad Ali Shah.
Media talk
Talking to media persons during his visit, Shah said a conspiracy had been hatched up to cancel the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Pakistan; however, the authorities with God’s help and their sincere efforts managed to get eight PSL matches, including the final, to be played in the city.
Due to the tense situation on the Pakistan-India border, people had doubts as to whether PSL matches would be hosted in Pakistan, the CM said, adding that such fears were not sound as PSL matches were being played in the city.
He maintained that after the PSL final match, efforts would be made to hunt cricket talent from every nook and corner of the province for the next PSL and the national team. A match will also be organised next year at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, Shah added.
Talking about development projects initiated by the Sindh government in Karachi, the CM said the provincial government would not stop carrying out work for the uplift of Karachi even though it was short of funds.
“I have visited all the schemes we have launched and if God willed, all would be completed in four months,” he said.
