Sindh CM seeks faster execution of Rs141bn PSDP road projects

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held a high-level meeting with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to review the progress of major Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects in Sindh and discuss measures to accelerate implementation of critical road infrastructure schemes worth over Rs140.9 billion. The meeting focused on five strategic road projects being executed through federal-provincial cost-sharing arrangements, including the Sindh coastal highway, Mehran Highway, Rohri-Guddu Road, Tando Allahyar-Tando Adam dual carriageway and the Sanghar-Rohri Road project. Collectively, the schemes are expected to significantly improve regional connectivity, facilitate trade and transportation, and support economic development across the province. The delegation was led by MNA Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. Committee members Ms Naz Baloch, Farhan Chishti, Syed Sami-ul-Hassan Gillani, Akhtar Bibi, Zulfiqar Bachani and Shabbir Bijarani attended the meeting. Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Jam Khan Shoro, Minister for Works & Services Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, Secretary to the Chief Minister Asif Jameel, Secretary Works Nawaz Soho and other senior officials were also present. During the briefing, the CM was informed that the five federal PSDP schemes have a combined revised cost of Rs140.916 billion, with the federal government contributing Rs96.757 billion and the Sindh government Rs44.159 billion. All projects are targeted for completion by June 2027. The meeting reviewed the status of the 36-kilometre Sindh Coastal Highway Extension, costing Rs37.7 billion. The CM informed the visiting parliamentarian that the work order had been issued in June 2026 and the contractor had mobilised machinery and resources at the site. The 150-kilometre Rohri-Guddu Barrage Road via Khanpur Mahar, Mirpur Mathelo and Mureed Shakh, with a revised cost of Rs17.79 billion, is currently under construction, with asphalt base work completed on 44 kilometres. The committee was also briefed on the 31.4-kilometre Tando Allahyar-Tando Adam Road Dualisation Project, estimated at Rs9.28 billion. Progress is continuing, although utility relocation, transmission line clearance and pending approvals from Pakistan Railways remain key implementation challenges. Similarly, work is underway on the 135-kilometre Dualisation of Mehran Highway from Nawabshah to Ranipur, a Rs41.03 billion project considered one of the province’s most important transport corridors. The meeting also reviewed progress on the 221-kilometre Sanghar-Rohri Road Project, costing Rs35.08 billion. Officials reported that widening and base work on significant sections has been completed and asphalt paving is expected to commence shortly. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that modern road infrastructure was essential for economic growth, regional integration and improved public mobility. “These projects are not merely roads; they are economic corridors that will connect communities, facilitate trade and create new opportunities for development across Sindh,” the CM said. He emphasised the need for close coordination between federal and provincial agencies to ensure timely completion of the schemes. “All bottlenecks, including utility shifting, approvals and funding issues, must be resolved on priority so that the people of Sindh can benefit from these strategic projects without delay,” he added. The CM also stressed the importance of uninterrupted federal funding for PSDP schemes and directed the concerned departments to maintain strict monitoring of project implementation. Chairman of the Standing Committee, Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani, appreciated the Sindh government’s efforts in advancing infrastructure development and assured the province of the committee’s support in addressing project-related issues at the federal level. “The Standing Committee is committed to facilitating coordination among all stakeholders to ensure that these nationally important projects are completed within the stipulated timeframe,” he said. “Improved connectivity is critical for economic expansion, investment and public welfare, and these projects will play a vital role in achieving those objectives,” Gilani added. The meeting concluded with a commitment from both federal and provincial stakeholders to strengthen coordination, expedite fund utilisation and remove administrative hurdles to ensure timely completion of all ongoing PSDP projects in Sindh.