KARACHI, Feb 23 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a high-level meeting to review the progress of Karachi’s development portfolio, Rs. 86.94 billion for the financial year 2025- 26, directing all executing agencies to accelerate implementation, improve financial utilisation, and ensure timely completion of priority projects.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Syed 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, Principal Secretary to the CM Agha Wasif, Chairman Planning & Development (P&D) Najam Ahmed Shah, Secretary Local Government Waseem Shamshad, Chairman CMIT Bilal Memon, Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi, CEO Water Board Ahmed Siddiqui, and others.
A detailed briefing was given on the status of 285 development schemes in the city with a total estimated cost of Rs. 86.94 billion.
Reviewing the overall portfolio, the chief minister was informed that Rs 38.83 billion had been allocated for Karachi, against which Rs 22.36 billion had been released and Rs 13.15 billion spent so far during the current financial year, while cumulative expenditure on these schemes has reached Rs 33.94 billion.
“Karachi is the economic engine of the province. Delays in development projects are not acceptable,” the chief minister said, stressing that utilisation of released funds must be improved and bottlenecks removed without further loss of time.
The briefing showed that KDA is executing 76 schemes with a cumulative utilisation of 72 per cent, while KMC is implementing 200 schemes with 46 per cent utilisation. MEGA Karachi is handling nine major schemes with 62 per cent utilisation.
Expressing concern over slower progress in some newly approved schemes, CM Murad Shah directed the concerned departments to immediately complete procedural requirements so that physical work could begin on the ground. “Approvals have been granted, and funds are available. Now the focus must be on delivery and visible results for the people,” he said.
The chief minister reviewed progress on MEGA projects, including the Murghi Khana Bridge on the Malir River and the Shahrah-e-Bhutto–Korangi Causeway junction near Qayyumabad, and instructed that these schemes be completed within their revised timelines.
The Shahrah-e-Bhutto and Korangi Causeway Bridge near Qayyumabad, Korangi, is a Rs1,890.180 million project, for which the entire amount has been released. The executing agency has utilised Rs902 million, and the project has achieved 68 per cent progress.
Reviewing progress on the Karimabad Underpass, the CM was informed that the project is a two-plus-two lane underpass with an estimated cost of Rs3.8 billion, started in May 2023, and has achieved 85 per cent physical progress. He was further briefed that the Munawar Chowrangi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar (Scheme-36) project is a Rs2,026.487 million scheme, for which the government has released Rs300 million, and its physical progress has reached 75 per cent.
The CM also reviewed major KDA projects such as the Karimabad and Munawar Chowrangi underpasses, directing engineers to maintain construction quality while minimising traffic disruption. He directed the Karachi Mayor to complete these schemes within a month so that they could be opened to the public.
Shah said that KDA has launched six new schemes: construction of roads in Scheme-41 Surjani, Scheme-36 Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Scheme-33 Gulzar-e-Hijri, and Scheme-5 Clifton for Rs2,876.250 million; construction and rehabilitation of different roads of Scheme-33, District East, for Rs1,987.470 million; construction of road from CP-03 to Malir Expressway through Malir River Road for Rs1,428.821 million; construction and rehabilitation of stormwater drain including road at I.B. Soomro Road, Maymar, for Rs1,350.994 million; and construction of Gujjar Nallah Flyover crossing Sir Shah Suleman Road, District Central Karachi, for Rs1,650.000 million. Mr Shah directed Local Government Minister Nasir Shah to get work started on all six new KDA schemes.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reviewed the recently approved Rs13 billion grant-in-aid for the rehabilitation of road infrastructure across 24 Town Municipal Corporations and Rs8.53 billion for the rehabilitation of 26 major roads in Karachi.
Shah reiterated that an oversight committee under Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Shah has been constituted to supervise these works and submit monthly progress reports. “There will be zero tolerance for weak planning, or substandard work,” he warned.
As part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) development portfolio for 2025–26, the chief minister was briefed on several urban renewal and civic improvement schemes currently at different stages of execution. These include the development of Karachi’s old city area for Rs744.5 million and the improvement and development of various business areas with an allocation of Rs1.05 billion, both approved in August 2025 and presently under implementation. The restoration and rehabilitation of old markets, costing Rs501.5 million, has also moved into the execution phase, with physical progress reported at 35 per cent.
Major transport and connectivity schemes under KMC were also reviewed, including the construction of a flyover at Azeempura intersection, along with widening and rehabilitation of the road from Malir River Bridge to Shama Shopping Centre in Shah Faisal Town, a project valued at Rs1.56 billion and currently in progress. Road infrastructure projects such as the rehabilitation of the road from Gulshan-e-Hadeed Mor to Allahwali Chowrangi in Malir and the reconstruction of Hub River Road towards Toori Bangash Ittehad Town are likewise underway, aimed at improving access and easing traffic congestion in rapidly growing areas of the city.
The meeting was also informed about citywide initiatives focusing on urban mobility, public spaces, and environmental improvement. These include the improvement and rehabilitation of Karachi’s traffic corridors, with an allocation of Rs4 billion and tendering currently in process, as well as the construction of a bird aviary at Kidney Hill Park and the development of a public park and ground at Gutter Baghicha, both intended to enhance recreational facilities for citizens. Additionally, a proposal for the development of graveyards in Karachi has reached the PC-I stage and is under consideration.
The chief minister directed KMC to ensure that all approved schemes translate into visible on-ground progress, emphasising that urban renewal, road rehabilitation, and public space development must proceed in a coordinated manner to improve service delivery and the overall liveability of Karachi.
Shah further instructed that coordination between provincial agencies, district administrations, and utility services be strengthened to avoid delays during execution.
Concluding the meeting, CM Murad Ali Shah said the provincial government was fully committed to transforming Karachi’s infrastructure. “Our objective is simple: better roads, smoother traffic flow, and improved quality of life for Karachiites. Every department must own this responsibility,” he said.
The chief minister directed the local government department to present an updated progress report in the next review meeting, with specific timelines and accountability for each major scheme.