Shahrah-e-Bhutto: A Legacy of Progress and Hope for Karachi

The Shahrah-e-Bhutto’s 9.1-kilometer section

from Qayumabad to Shah Faisal Interchange

was partially opened during the ceremony

Staff Reporter

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the Shahrah-e-Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Shahrah-e-Bhutto), highlighting it as a transformative milestone in Karachi’s urban development. The project, part of the late Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s visionary Karachi Package of 1994-95, aims to address the city’s growing congestion and modernize its infrastructure.

The inauguration was performed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, with former Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, President PPP Sindh Nisar Khuhro, Provincial Ministers, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and other dignitaries in attendance.

Key Features of Shahrah-e-Bhutto

The Shahrah-e-Bhutto, spanning 38.75 kilometers, includes an access-controlled, high-speed corridor. A 9.1-kilometer section, from Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway at Qayumabad to Shah Faisal Interchange, was partially opened during the ceremony.

• Reduced Travel Time: Once fully operational, it will reduce travel time from over an hour to just 25 minutes.
• Alternative to Shahrah-e-Faisal: It will ease traffic congestion and connect industrial zones to key locations, improving trade and logistics.
• No Displacements: The project ensured no residents were displaced, reaffirming the government’s commitment to public welfare.

Public-Private Partnership Model

The CM emphasized the project’s successful execution under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. With a total cost of Rs. 54.7 billion, the Sindh Government contributed Rs. 31.3 billion, while the remainder was financed through private equity and commercial loans. This collaboration demonstrates Sindh’s ability to attract private investment for public welfare initiatives.

Tribute to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s Vision

Murad Shah highlighted that the Shahrah-e-Bhutto is not just a road but a realization of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s forward-thinking Karachi Package, which also introduced the Lyari and Malir Expressways. He paid tribute to her legacy, acknowledging her pivotal role in Karachi’s urban transformation.

Infrastructure Milestones and Future Projects

Murad Shah outlined the PPP’s ongoing commitment to groundbreaking projects, including:

• Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway
• Sir Aga Khan Jhirk-Mulakatyar Bridge
• Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge (longest over the Indus)
• Nabisar-Vajihar Water Works Project supporting Thar Block-I

He also announced new initiatives such as Shahrah-e-Bhutto Zero Point, extending from Karachi Port to Korangi, and the launch of additional projects like the 100-bed Baldia Hospital and a Garbage Transfer Station.

Commitment to Karachi’s Future

The Chief Minister reaffirmed his commitment to completing the project ahead of schedule under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He invited local investors to participate in Sindh’s public-private partnership initiatives and pledged to bring an additional 400 MGD of water to Karachi to meet its increasing demands.