CM wants construction work hurried up

Shah says he is aware that residents have been inconvenienced

KARACHI: Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah directed Inspector-General of Police Allah Dino Khawaja to make necessary arrangements for the smooth flow of traffic since the Rs12 billion Karachi package Phase-II has caused great inconvenience to the commuters in the city.

He said this during his visit on Sunday to the newly launched schemes under the Karachi package’s second phase. Shah was accompanied by Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, senior officers involved in the project and the city administration.

Shah visited Cantonment Railway Station to monitor the progress of the roads leading to the station, which are being constructed at a cost of Rs240 million. Work is currently under way and all necessary machinery has been mobilised.



He made a stop at the electronics market in Saddar after noticing heaps of trash on the road and directed the Karachi commissioner to talk to the market association and tell them to stop this unhealthy practice or take strict action against them. “The government is working hard to keep the city clean but the shopkeepers, despite having dustbins provided by Sindh Solid Waste Management Board at their shops, are throwing their trash on the main road,” Shah complained.

He stopped at Anklesaria Hospital in Garden where construction of a road from Fawara Chowk via Abdullah Haroon Road, including Zaibunissa Street was started at a cost of Rs650 million. Karachi Package Project Director Niaz Soomro and deputy engineer Khalid Mansoor briefed the CM on the progress after which Shah directed them to work day and night to make it a success. “This is the most important road and is usually jammed at peak hours, therefore its construction, without compromising on the quality of work, must be completed quickly,” Shah added.

He visited the flyover at Drigh Road, which is being reconstructed at a cost of Rs80 million due to frequently developing craters. Shah also went to Safoora Chowrangi to monitor the progress of the road being reconstructed and enquired about the issues faced by the residents as well. Talking to the media at Safoora Chowarngi, he said that he has given clear instructions to the Karachi administration and the police not to harass people visiting Seaview to celebrate New Year’s eve.



Shah said that the people of Karachi, particularly the youngsters, are responsible and will not create problems for the public or for themselves. “You can enjoy peacefully and respectfully but carrying weapons, one-wheeling and creating problems for others will not be tolerated,” he added.

Responding to a question on the sugar cane crisis, he said that the price is not increasing because the sugar cane in Punjab is sold in Sindh for Rs100 per 40 kilogrammes.  “We have allowed an additional Rs9.3 subsidy on the export of sugar so that sugar mill owners start crushing otherwise they were reluctant to do so, saying that huge quantities of sugar were lying in their warehouses,” he said. “Mill owners have started the crushing process so now there is only the price issue for which we are taking measures to get the growers a better price,” he added.

Shah said that he is trying to complete all the development schemes being carried out in the city. “I know almost all major roads of the city have been dug up for reconstruction and this has caused great inconvenience to citizens,” he said, adding that they will only have to bear with this for the next eight months.



Shah monitored the ongoing construction of a bridge at the Sunset Boulevard and Gizri intersection. He directed the traffic police to provide proper alternative traffic routes. The CM also visited Submarine Chowk where an underpass is under construction. “I am happy that you have started the work on the other track but the delay in its completion is causing problems for people,” he told the administration.