CM expedites development projects worth Rs75.6b

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the Planning and Development Department to expedite the approval process for 162 development schemes, amounting to Rs75.639 billion, as part of Karachi's Rs187.3 billion development portfolio.

These schemes, which have an allocation of Rs14.8 billion for the current financial year 2024-25, are targeted for completion by the next fiscal year. Therefore, there is an urgency to start work on these projects without delay. He said this while presiding over a meeting at CM House on Monday. It was attended by P&D and Energy Minister Nasir Shah, Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Energy Secretary Musadik Khan, Finance Secretary Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh and Law Secretary Ali Ahmad Baloch.

Minister P&D Nasir Shah gave a detailed briefing to the chief minister about Rs187.3 billion development portfolio of the city. The development portfolio includes Rs76.952 billion allocated for 988 schemes launched under the provincial Annual Development Programme (ADP), Rs103.051 billion for six major projects under Foreign Project Assistance (FPA), and Rs7.30 billion from District ADP. Out of the total schemes, 87 important projects, each costing Rs500 million or more, are part of ADP 2024-25.

The CM was told that out of the 988 schemes, 346 are fully funded and expected to be completed by June 2025. It was pointed out that work is currently in progress on 826 of these schemes, worth Rs269.243 billion, with Rs62.149 billion allocated for this year.

During the discussion, it was revealed that there were 162 schemes amounting to Rs75.639 billion with an allocation of Rs14.803 billion for 2024-25 that were yet to be approved. The CM directed Minister P&D Nasir Shah to expedite the approval of the schemes so that work could be started on them.

To a question, the CM was told that the total cost of 988 ADP schemes was Rs344.882 billion against which Rs76.953 billion had been allocated. The CM instructed Minister P&D to direct all the departments to utilise the funds allocated for their development schemes so that they could be given additional funds next year for their full completion.

The CM was also informed that there were six foreign funded projects worth Rs403.981 billion against which Rs103.05 billion have been allocated and Rs363.636 billion was thrown forward.