Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has directed the local government secretary to show up details of the pace of work on different development schemes including the University Road.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar issued notices to Sindh chief secretary, DIG traffic police, commissioner Karachi and district east’s deputy commissioner to file their respective replies to the petition by March 9.

Rizwan, a resident of Gulshan-e-Ibqal, had petitioned the high court submitting that the provincial government had awarded contracts for renovation of different roads under the Annual Development Project, 2016 under the banner of ‘Karachi Package’.

He said that the repair work on the University Road from Hassan Square to NIPA was being carried out at snail’s pace. Similarly, only 15 percent of construction work on the road from Shaheed-e-Millat road to Shahrah-e-Quaiden, costing Rs 569.81 million, was completed.

Rizwan submitted that the University Road was one of the main arteries of the city as six educational institutions were along the road and many hospitals can also be reached using this road but due to slow progress, the students, patients and their attendants are going through severe hardships.

The petitioner added that the citizens faced many difficulties and traffic congestion while going to offices or other places and coming back home as work is being carried out from 9 am to 5 pm. He added that if the work continued at the same pace, it will take long time to complete.

Therefore, he requested the court to direct the authorities concerned to speed up the construction work.