CM orders acceleration of projects

Meeting reviews status of Rs89.9b development portfolio for metropolis

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review Karachi's development portfolio for the 2025-26 fiscal year, valued at Rs86.94 billion.

He directed implementing agencies to speed up project execution, ensure efficient use of funds, and complete priority schemes on time.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Seyed Nasir Hussain Shah and Jam Khan Shoro, Special Assistant to the CM Syed Qasim Naveed, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and senior officials from the Planning & Development, Finance, and Water Board departments.

Officials presented a detailed briefing on 285 ongoing projects in the city, costing a total of Rs86.94 billion. Of the Rs38.83 billion allocated specifically for Karachi, Rs22.36 billion has been released, with Rs13.15 billion spent so far. Cumulative expenditure across all schemes has reached Rs33.94 billion. "Karachi is the economic lifeline of the province. Delays in development projects are unacceptable," the CM said, emphasizing that released funds should be utilized effectively and bottlenecks removed immediately.

Institutional performance

The briefing highlighted that the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) is executing 76 projects with 72% fund utilization, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is working on 200 schemes with 46% utilization, and Mega Karachi is implementing nine major projects at 62% completion. The CM expressed concern over slow progress on recently approved projects and instructed departments to fulfill all regulatory requirements promptly to start ground-level work.

Mega and road projects

Progress on major projects, including the Murghi Khana Bridge on Malir River and Bhutto-Korangi Causeway near Qayyumabad, was reviewed. The Rs1.89 billion Bhutto-Korangi Causeway project is 68% complete, with Rs902 million spent. The Rs3.8 billion Karimabad underpass, started in May 2023, is 85% complete, while the Rs2.026 billion Manzoor Chowrangi project has seen 75% progress. CM Shah stressed quality control and minimal traffic disruption, ordering the Mayor to complete these projects within a month for public use.

Six new KDA schemes, including road construction in Scheme 41 Surjani, Scheme 36 Gulistan-e-Johar, and Scheme 33 Gulzar-e-Hijri, totaling over Rs2.8 billion, have been launched. The CM instructed Minister for Local Government Nasser Shah to ensure immediate commencement of work on all projects.

Road rehabilitation campaign

The CM reviewed Rs13 billion in grants for road repairs across 24 town municipal corporations and Rs8.53 billion for 26 major city roads. A monitoring committee under Minister Nasser Shah will present monthly progress reports.