Hyd-Sukkur Motorwaya must for Pakistan's trade: Sharjeel

Says token allocation in federal budget insufficient for timely execution

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KARACHI:

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has stressed that the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway is not just vital for Sindh but holds strategic importance for Pakistan's overall trade and connectivity.

He pointed out that the Karachi Port is the central hub for the country's imports and exports, and there is no more suitable route than the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway to facilitate this movement.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Memon emphasised that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has repeatedly reminded the federal government of the urgency of this project, even sending official letters.

"Recently, federal ministers gave assurances that funds for the project would be included in the upcoming budget," he said.

However, Memon clarified that the construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway is the responsibility of the federal government, not the Sindh government.

"We were told that this project would start soon and be completed quickly. But with the amount that has been allocated, the project cannot begin promptly, nor can it be completed on time," he added.

Calling the allocation mere "token money," Memon said the budgeted amount is wholly inadequate for a project of such scale.

"Large infrastructure projects of this nature require full funding, not symbolic allocations," he said. "These are typically multi-year projects, requiring at least 30-40% of the total budget in the first year-just like other national projects receive."

He criticised the federal government for allocating only Rs15 billion, saying it reflects neither fairness to the project nor seriousness about national development.

"This allocation does not serve the interests of Pakistan," he asserted.

Sharjeel Memon also expressed serious reservations over the budgetary allocations for the K-IV water supply project, stating that the funds earmarked were highly insufficient.