Minister for Local Government sindh Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, while addressing the business community at the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), said that the provincial government is committed to improving infrastructure and public services across Sindh in line with the vision of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari. Secretary Local Government, CEO Water Corporation, Managing Director Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, Director General Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and other senior officials were also present on the occasion. Addressing industrialists and business leaders, Nasir Shah said that the ongoing Shahrah-e-Bhutto project and other mega development schemes would bring significant benefits to citizens as well as the business community.
He said that KATI had submitted various development proposals which were being taken into consideration by the Sindh government. The minister informed participants that development projects worth around Rs2 trillion are currently underway in Karachi, while schemes worth Rs9 billion are being executed in Korangi.
He said major road infrastructure projects have been handed over to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), while development work is in progress on more than 109 roads across various towns of Karachi. In addition, work has commenced on around 40 small and large road projects in the city. Nasir Shah said the Sindh government is paying special attention to water supply for industrial areas and added that separate funds amounting to Rs 9 billion had been allocated for industrial development, including Rs2 billion specifically for Korangi.
He said work is also progressing on TP-4 to improve water availability for industries. The minister directed Water Corporation officials to ensure uninterrupted water supply at the KATI office and surrounding industrial areas. He said Karachi receives water from distant sources and the government is working on multiple projects to improve supply and distribution. Referring to infrastructure development, he said construction work on the Azeempura Flyover is continuing and will help ease traffic congestion in the area.
He further said that Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has engaged with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank regarding progress on the Yellow Line project. Nasir Shah urged the business community to provide constructive proposals on issues relating to the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) and other departments, adding that concerns regarding the federal government should also be shared so they could be conveyed to President Asif Ali Zardari.
The minister said Karachi is widely recognized as Pakistan’s economic hub, yet all responsibilities are often placed solely on the Sindh government. He maintained that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the NFC Award, powers and resources were distributed among provinces and questioned why Sindh receives only three to four percent of the PSDP allocation, which has now declined to around one to two percent.