Sindh senior minister apologises for public inconvenience and says round-the-clock efforts are underway to complete key infrastructure projects.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced that University Road in Karachi will be reopened to traffic by the end of July as work on the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project continues around the clock.
Speaking to the media during a visit to review progress on the Red Line BRT project on Saturday, Memon acknowledged the inconvenience caused to the public and apologised for the disruption, saying that the government had taken difficult decisions to ensure the completion of vital infrastructure projects.
Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, TransKarachi Chief Executive Officer Zubair Channa and other officials accompanied the minister during the inspection.
Memon said work on the Red Line project was progressing day and night to minimise delays and provide improved transport facilities for Karachi residents.
Commenting on the city’s infrastructure needs, he said Karachi’s motorway connectivity should have originated from within the city, adding that planning decisions in the past had resulted in the opposite approach. He also noted that Karachi, situated at the southern end of Pakistan, continues to face a 20 per cent water shortage.
The minister highlighted that the opening of the Bhutto Highway had significantly eased commuting difficulties and reduced travel times for citizens. He added that police, ambulance and rescue services had been deployed along the highway to provide immediate assistance when required.
Memon further stated that Karachi possesses the highest number of healthcare facilities in the country, attracting patients from across Pakistan seeking free medical treatment. He also referred to the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, which he said was providing high-quality healthcare services free of charge.
He added that the Sindh government had improved road infrastructure across the province using its own resources and that development work was continuing in various sectors.
The senior minister said that Sindh was implementing what he described as the world’s largest housing initiative, under which homes were being constructed for 2.1 million low-income individuals. He also noted that the provincial government had invested $1 billion in the Thar coal project, which was contributing to affordable electricity generation for the country.
Addressing Karachi’s traffic challenges, Memon said a terminal was being developed on the Northern Bypass to help manage increasing congestion. He emphasised that Karachi bears a significant burden due to people from across Pakistan relocating to the city for employment and healthcare services.
Responding to a question regarding constitutional matters, Memon dismissed reports about a proposed 28th Amendment as rumours. He also pointed out that the 18th Amendment had received support from MQM and claimed that the public does not take MQM-Pakistan leaders seriously.
