CM believes Sindh will get new look after ADP schemes completed

Murad Ali Shah reviews progress of projects launched by works and services department

KARACHI: With the completion of 503 road schemes launched under Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2017-18 and six schemes taken up with Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance, Sindh will be given a new look with adequate road infrastructure.

Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah said this while presiding over a meeting at CM House on Wednesday to review the progress on road schemes launched across Sindh by the works and services department.

Works and Services Department Minister Imdad Pitafi told the meeting that the department has launched 496 schemes worth Rs26 billion, which include 488 road projects and eight schemes of building sectors. The government has released Rs8.3 billion. According to him, 146 schemes will be completed by the end of June next year. He added that under the ADB assistance, six schemes of 328 kilometres of roads are currently ongoing at a cost of Rs22.7 million.



Informing the meeting about the progress of the ADB schemes, Works and Services Department Secretary Aijaz Memon said the work on the 44km Thul-Kandhkot Road launched in December, 2016 at a cost of Rs2.07 billion, is 15% complete. Work on the 36km Sheranpur to Ratodero road has been completed by 13% at a cost of Rs1.45 billion. The 64km Khyber to Sanghar via Tando Adam road of Rs2.8 billion has only been done 5%, while the 63km Sanghar to Mirpurkhas via Sindhri Road has been completed by 6%.

On this, the CM expressed his displeasure and directed the Mirpurkhas deputy commissioner to personally visit the under-construction roads and report back to him whether the work was ongoing or it had been suspended. "I have reports that the work has been stopped on the schemes for reasons best known to the relevant engineer," he said.



The secretary told the meeting that the 67km Tando Muhammad Khan to Badin road, launched at a cost Rs3.39 billion, has been completed 5.32% and the 54km Digri to Naukot road with a cost Rs3.35 billion has been 5.7% completed. The CM directed the secretary to make the engineers complete the work in time.

The CM was told that a substantial amount of Rs4.8 billion has been allocated for the repair of roads and buildings. He issued directions to Planning and Development Department Chairperson Muhammad Waseem to send his DG for inspection of roads that have been proposed for repair and report back to him. "I want proper maintenance of roads and will personally visit them," the CM warned, adding that he has received reportsthat  the maintenance work is not being done properly.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to the CM Sohail Rajput, Sukkur highways chief Muqeem Anasri and others.