KARACHI: Federal Minister of Communications Aleem Khan met with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to discuss key road infrastructure projects, including the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway and other provincial roads. The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary of Communications, Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA), and other officials.
Murad Ali Shah emphasized the importance of extending the motorway network from Karachi to Lahore and Peshawar, highlighting the need to connect Karachi Port to the national motorway system for fulfilling the motorway’s objectives. He pointed out that while several motorways have been completed, the M-6 project remains unimplemented.
Aleem Khan confirmed that the M-6 motorway is divided into five sections, with funding secured for three sections and work underway on others. He stressed the critical need to connect motorways to Karachi Port to avoid an incomplete project. The CM suggested that public-private partnerships could delay the project and offered bridge financing of Rs 40-50 billion to expedite progress.
The Jamshoro-Sehwan road’s early completion was also discussed, with 66 km already completed. Work has begun on the project, Aleem Khan noted.
The meeting reviewed the M-10 motorway project from Karachi to Hyderabad, aimed at facilitating heavy and port traffic directly to Hyderabad via ICI Bridge KPT, Gulbai, and Hub Chowki.
Regarding the Lyari Expressway, an audit declared it unsuitable for heavy traffic. Murad Ali Shah recommended improving interchanges and constructing a service road at Sohrab Goth to separate local and port traffic, with an engineering solution to ease traffic jams also planned.
