Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that his government has decided to construct another bridge on River Indus to connect Ghotki with Kandhkot. He said this would be a revolution in the area to carry traffic of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan apart from facilitating the people of
two districts.

He said this while talking to a six-member Chinese delegation of Ranken Railway Construction Group Co Ltd who called on him at CM House on Thursday.

The delegation was led by Tang Jikai and other members were Li Yang, Yao Lang, Yao Lan, Wang Jue, Wang Lei and Wang Changqi. The Sindh chief minister was assisted by Finance Secretary Sohail Rajut and Adviser to CM on Inspection and Inquiries, Haji Muzafar Shujrah.

The Chinese delegation informed that they have expertise in bullet train, circular railways and construction of roads and bridges. The delegation said that they have studied the requirement and rider-ship priorities of different corridors.

The Sindh chief minister said that his government has constructed two bridges on River Indus, one at Thatta-Sujawal and other one at Jhirk-Mula Katiar which is near completion. He said, “We have planned another bridge on River Indus at Kandhkot-Ghotki. It would be 1.5 kilometres long and would ease traffic flow of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan and also reduce long distance of over 75 kilometres between Ghotki and Kandhkot.” He said that this bridge would be launched under public private partnership mode because it would have immense commercial transport. He said, “I would like to invite you to participate in its bids to be invited in the third week of July.”

Sindh CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah further said that Karachi genuinely needs a well-planned state-of-the-art circular railway to provide efficient, effective and fast transport facilities without creating any sort of pollution.

The delegation showed their interest in circular railways and Kandhkot-Ghotki Bridge on River Indus and they fixed their meeting with Finance Secretary Sohail Rajput who also heads PPP Unit to discuss working partnership.The Sindh chief minister said that his government is also working on environmental issues adding that keeping in view climatic changes, the government would launch special tree plantation, vegetation on mountains and would also work to introduce such trees which could be grown in desert area of Thar, Kohistan and Kachho area.