Says end to illegal occupation of footpaths, roads, green belts should be top priority,
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a meeting on Thursday to review the progress of several major urban development projects, including the removal of encroachments, the completion of the Malir Expressway, and the TP-4 and Hub Canal projects. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, including Saeed Ghani and Zial Lanjar, along with Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, and other key officials. CM Shah expressed frustration over the persistent issue of encroachments on footpaths, green belts, and roads, which he said have been allowed to proliferate despite administrative oversight.
Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi reported that assistant commissioners are compiling data on these encroachments, including debris from under-construction buildings. A detailed plan will soon be submitted to address these issues. CM Shah stressed that preventing encroachments should be the responsibility of local bodies, administration, and police. Mayor Wahab added that parking spaces in buildings are being misused, leading to congestion on roads. DG SBCA Rasheed Solangi informed the CM that a survey of commercial plazas is underway to address unauthorized conversions of parking areas into storage spaces. Notices will be issued to plazas to restore their parking facilities.
Regarding the Malir Expressway, CM Shah was informed of delays due to litigation. He urged the Project Director to complete the remaining work by mid-September, with a public opening planned for the end of September. The first segment of the 15-km Malir Expressway, from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Shah Faisal Colony, is expected to provide an alternative route to the airport, benefiting city residents. CM Shah also directed deputy commissioners, local bodies, and the police to safeguard government land and property. He was informed about the high water demand in the KIA and Korangi Creek areas, and instructed DG PPP Unit Asad Zamin to finalize a timeline for the TP-4 project by the end of 2025.
For the Hub Canal rehabilitation project, CM Shah set a timeline for the Karachi Water Board to mobilize contractors by July 28 and start work in August. He requested that all rehabilitation work, including civil, electrical, and mechanical, be completed by May 2025. This project is expected to add 35 to 40 MGD of water to the system, benefiting the west, central, and Keamari districts. Finally, CM Shah urged the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board to enhance cleanliness across the city, ensuring that every road and area maintains a hygienic appearance.
