Aleem Khan Meets Murad Ali Shah to Discuss Road Projects in Sindh

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Communications Aleem Khan met with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in Karachi to review progress on key road infrastructure projects, including the long-delayed Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6) and other important routes in the province.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Communications, the Chairman of the National Highway Authority (NHA), and other senior officials.

During the discussion, the Sindh CM emphasized the importance of completing the motorway network from Karachi to Lahore and Peshawar. He said the true purpose of the motorway system would only be achieved once Karachi Port is directly linked with the rest of the country.

“Several motorways have already been built, but the M-6 is still pending,” Murad Ali Shah pointed out.

Minister Aleem Khan agreed, saying, “Connecting the motorway to Karachi Port is essential. Without it, the network remains incomplete.”

He informed the chief minister that the M-6 Motorway project has been divided into five sections. Funding has already been arranged for three sections, and construction work is underway. “This project is being financed by the federal government in partnership with banks,” he added.

Murad Ali Shah expressed concern that if the M-6 is executed through a public-private partnership, it may face delays. He offered a bridge financing option, saying, “The Sindh government is willing to provide Rs 40 to 50 billion to speed up the process. We want the work to begin immediately.”

Jamshoro-Sehwan Road

CM Murad also stressed the need to complete the Jamshoro-Sehwan road quickly. “Work on 66 kilometers of the road has already been done,” he said. Aleem Khan confirmed that the remaining construction work is ongoing.

New M-10 Motorway Project

The meeting also covered the proposed M-10 Motorway from Karachi to Hyderabad. The new route will start from the ICI Bridge at Karachi Port, passing through Gulbai and Hub Chowki, before reaching Hyderabad. Officials agreed to prepare a comprehensive plan for this project, which is expected to ease the movement of heavy vehicles and port traffic.

Lyari Expressway Concerns

NHA representatives told the meeting that an audit had found the Lyari Expressway unsuitable for heavy traffic. CM Murad suggested improving its interchanges to address the issue.

He noted, “The Lyari Expressway was built to carry traffic from the port to the motorway, but it fails to meet this goal. It ends at Sohrab Goth, where local and heavy traffic mix, causing major congestion.”