CM inaugurates Dinshaw B Avari Road

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with noted businessman Byram D Avari, inaugurated Dinshaw B Avari Road constructed from the Keamari Bridge to the Khamees Gate at a cost of Rs40 million.

The soft launch ceremony at the CM House on Saturday was attended by Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah, Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab, Byram D. Avari and his family, and other notables of the Parsi community. Dinshaw B Avari Road connects the seaport to Karachi, including its industrial areas and upcountry imports and exports section, popularly known as the Gateway to Pakistan.

CM Shah said the improvement of the road in all respects for a smooth and swift flow of freight traffic to and from Pakistan held pivotal importance.

He said the road also led to the passenger pier to transport public and goods to the Baba and Bhit islands and Manora. He added that previously the road was in a very dilapidated shape, which resulted in prolonged delays and traffic jams, thus causing human fatigue and wastage of fuel.

The CM said the Sindh government, through the KMC, undertook the improvement of the road, which included the refurbishment of the existing tracks and improvement of the drainage system, which had remained the main cause of its deterioration; besides, the electrification of the road had also been upgraded.

Although the road spans two-kilometre only, but its improvement and upgrading has transformed the area in many respects, the CM said and added that apart from the road in the Keamari district, the Sindh government has invested Rs1,400 million in the construction of the road from Mai Kolachi to Y-Junction, Rs650 million on the development of the Manora Beach Front, Rs500 million on Mason Road, Rs1,037 million on the development of SITE roads at 15 different locations and the construction of jetties in Baba and Bhit islands and Mubarak village.

The CM said the road has been so named in respect of Dinshaw Byramji Avari, born on 22nd August 1902, in a humble family. Dinshaw Byramji Avari studied in an orphanage as his mother had passed away and his father had to work during the day. He did BCom studying in the light of a hurricane lantern. He then joined an insurance company of Canada as a clerk. Due to his hard work and dedication, he was promoted as manager for Karachi and then became general manager for Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP, Punjab and Afghanistan.

Later, he switched his careers to become a hotelier where he made progress.

Dinshaw B. Avari Road was decorated by the British government, a founding member of Rotary and trustee of many Parsi trusts, including Karachi Parsi Anjuman. Apart from numerous other social activities, he was also Trustee BVS Boys & Mama Parsi Girls schools, and BMH Parsi Hospital, Deaf & Dumb Centre- founder and president, Pakistan Sea Scouts- founder member, member Society for prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Hotels Association of Pakistan, founder president and member of Sindh Red Cross, Red Crescent Society.

Being a self-made man, Dinshaw never forgot the downtrodden and poor, the CM said and added his doors were open to all 24 hours a day. His motto was to trust everyone at the face value unless they proved him otherwise. He passed away on December 18, 1988. However, his legacy continues to this day, his principles and philosophy institutionalised forming the foundations of the Avari family and Group. “I am sure, and I know his son who continues his legacy in social services also,” CM concluded.

On the occasion, Bahram D. Avari also spoke and appreciated the gesture of the Sindh government by naming an important road after his father.