The provincial government says master plans for 17 cities have been completed, while work on 14 others is nearing completion to promote sustainable urban development.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced that the provincial government is preparing master plans for 31 cities to improve urban infrastructure, control unplanned expansion and promote sustainable development across the province.
Speaking at the Sindh Cities Forum 2026 on Saturday, the chief minister said the initiative aimed to address growing urban challenges, including traffic congestion, water shortages, inadequate drainage, unregulated construction and climate-related risks. Karachi and Hyderabad are among the major cities covered under the planning exercise.
The forum was organised by the Sindh Master Planning Authority (SMPA) in collaboration with NED University and UN-Habitat to mark World Cities Day.
Master Plans for 17 Cities Completed
According to Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah, master plans for 17 cities have been completed, while preparations for the remaining 14 are in their final stages.
The provincial government has already notified plans for nine cities, including Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Mithi, Islamkot, Dadu, Nawabshah and Naushahro Feroze.
Murad Ali Shah said planning work for Karachi and Hyderabad was progressing quickly. International consultants have been hired for Karachi, where addressing existing infrastructure problems and years of unplanned development presents a major challenge.
He stressed that the proposed plan should provide practical solutions and ensure effective implementation rather than remain limited to recommendations.
Karachi Faces Major Urban Challenges
Highlighting Karachi’s infrastructure problems, the chief minister recalled how encroachments had damaged roads, service lanes, central medians and drainage channels. He referred to the 2020 flooding in Yousuf Goth, explaining how the city’s original infrastructure had been compromised by unregulated construction.
He also acknowledged that successive governments had contributed to the city’s planning difficulties.
The chief minister highlighted delays in relocating underground utility networks, saying the absence of accurate maps for electricity, water and sewerage lines often disrupted development projects. The provincial government has undertaken geographical information system (GIS) surveys to improve underground utility mapping.
He also emphasised the need to incorporate parking facilities and traffic management into commercial and residential planning.
Focus on Better Urban Services
The government is also pursuing improvements in roads, bridges, public transport, healthcare, education, parks, water supply and sanitation.
Murad Ali Shah said the ultimate objective was to develop cities that offered better facilities, equal opportunities and a sustainable living environment.
He urged government departments, private businesses, universities, planners and citizens to work together to make Sindh’s cities more liveable and economically productive.