Karachi’s crumbling road network is set for a substantial upgrade after Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved a Rs 25 billion reconstruction and rehabilitation package for the city.
Presiding over a meeting at the CM House, Shah expressed concern over the worsening condition of roads and its impact on traffic congestion. He directed authorities to start work immediately, emphasizing that delays in rehabilitation were no longer acceptable given the daily hardship faced by commuters.
During the briefing, officials informed the chief minister that 315 internal streets across Karachi require urgent repair and recarpeting. Shah approved the entire package and stressed that roadwork must be carried out in coordination with drainage and sewerage upgrades to avoid damage during the monsoon season and prevent the need for frequent reconstruction.
The plan also includes the rebuilding of 60 major arteries, which will be developed alongside necessary utility work. The chief minister instructed that coordination with utility agencies be ensured so that roads are not repeatedly dug up after completion, and long-term durability is maintained.
Officials also shared updates on several ongoing mega infrastructure projects in Karachi:
- The Korangi Causeway Bridge is reported to be over 80 percent complete and is expected to open by late 2025 or early 2026.
- The 39-kilometer Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway has reached around 78 percent completion, with some sections already operational.
- A 22-kilometer Port Qasim–M9 link road is under construction and is likely to be opened by the end of 2025.
- The long-delayed Kareemabad Underpass, now 85 percent complete, is also scheduled for completion within this year.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the coordinated rollout of these road and infrastructure projects would help ease traffic congestion, improve connectivity between key areas, and enhance overall urban mobility across Karachi.
He reiterated that Karachi, as Pakistan’s economic hub, requires sustained investment in infrastructure to support its growing population and commercial activity.
