CM hails Shahrah-e-Bhutto as 'lifeline for city's future'

Says not a single citizen along the project has been displaced

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that Shahrah-e-Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Shahrah-e-Bhutto) is not merely a project but a realisation of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto's visionary Karachi Package, announced in 1994-95. This package aimed to introduce the Lyari and Malir Expressways, tackling Karachi's growing congestion and modernising its infrastructure.

In a momentous event held in Karachi, the partial opening of the 9.1-kilometre section of the Shahrah-e-Bhutto, extending from Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway at Qayyumabad to the Shah Faisal Interchange, was celebrated as a transformative step for the city. "This access-controlled, high-speed corridor is designed to revolutionise Karachi's urban landscape, providing immediate relief to commuters while setting the stage for the completion of the full 38.75-kilometre expressway in 2025," the CM said.

He said that the Shahrah-e-Bhutto project, costing Rs54.7 billion, was a shining example of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework, where the Sindh government contributed Rs31.3 billion, while private equity and commercial loans covered the rest.

The Shahrah would reduce travel time from over an hour to just 25 minutes to serve as an alternative to Sharea Faisal, easing congestion, to connect industrial zones to key locations, improving trade and logistics, to provide a safer and more efficient route for heavy traffic to and from Karachi Port Trust.

He added, importantly, the construction ensured that no residents were displaced, upholding the government's commitment to the welfare of its citizens.

The chief minister pledged to bring an additional 400MGD of water to the megalopolis to address its increasing water needs and to better serve its residents.

Roadmap to development

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has highlighted the significance of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway, stating that it is not just a state-of-the-art road but a roadmap to development. "This Expressway is a strategic link between Karachi's urban centre and the M-9 Motorway," he mentioned.

The senior minister stated that the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway would provide smooth and uninterrupted access to the highway.

He said, the Expressway will benefit various stakeholders, including businesses, passengers, and industries and alleviate pressure on Karachi's road network, reducing fuel consumption and travel times by up to 50 per cent. In turn, this will facilitate connectivity within Karachi and to key industrial and commercial centres like Dhabeji and Pakistan Steel Mills.

Easy access to Pakistan Steel Mills, particularly the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (DSEZ), is anticipated to promote investment, the Minister added.