PM, CM agree to speed up federal projects

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah have reviewed federal government's initiatives in Sindh and agreed to expedite their completion. The two met at the Chief Minister House on Friday.

CM Shah updated PM Shahbaz on the progress and challenges associated with the federally-funded development projects in Sindh. He highlighted the progress of the BRT Red Line project, and announced that work on the BRT Yellow Line would commence soon. He added that the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project would address traffic issues in the metropolitan city.

Prime Minister Shahbaz assured the chief minister that the federal government is collaborating closely with Chinese authorities to prioritise the KCR under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework. He stressed the project's importance and hoped it would be started with Chinese support in the near future.

The two leaders also discussed the escalating cost of electricity, which has been causing public unrest. They agreed on the need to convert all coal-fired power projects to utilise Thar coal to reduce production costs. The prime minister said that relying on indigenous energy sources, such as coal and renewables, would help provide relief to the public.

CM Shah informed PM Sharif about his government's plan to distribute 200,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS) to off-grid and low-consumption households to alleviate their power bills.

The K-IV water supply project was another topic of discussion. The chief minister explained that while WAPDA was handling the K-IV canal and conduit, his government would manage the augmentation works. The prime minister agreed to instruct WAPDA to expedite their part of the project, and CM Shah pledged to start the augmentation works soon to ensure timely completion of the entire project.

The chief minister outlined the Hub Canal project, aimed at overhauling the existing canal and constructing a new one to supply 200 mgd of water to Karachi's Districts West, Keamari, and Central. The prime minister commended the initiative.

The meeting also covered the proposed 105km railway line from the Thar coalfield to Chhor, designed to facilitate coal transportation for power plants and industrial use. Both sides agreed to accelerate the project's paperwork.

Earlier, the chief inister, along with Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, and IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, welcomed the prime minister to the CM House.