KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday directed the authorities to complete the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Malir Expressway project by December, a press release said.
It added that the CM issued these directives while conducting a review of key ongoing infrastructure projects, including the New Link Road, Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway and the Korangi Causeway Bridge near Qayyumabad.
During the meeting held at the CM House, the chief minister instructed the PPP unit to open the New Link Road by July 25 and Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway by December.
Reviews progress of ongoing infrastructure projects in city; instructs officials to open New Link Road by 25th
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, PSCM Agha Wasif, secretary finance Fayaz Jatoi, secretary local government Waseem Shamshad, secretary transport Asad Zamin, project director Shahrah-i-Bhutto Niaz Soomro, project engineer Khalid Masroor and other relevant officials.
New Link Road project
The CM said the New Link Road project, aimed at connecting the National Highway (N-5) with Motorway M-9, is progressing steadily, with a significant portion already completed. “The project is set to transform connectivity for freight and commuter traffic between Port Qasim, Karachi’s industrial zones, and the broader national highway network,” he said.
The upgraded Link Road corridor is being developed into a four-lane dual carriageway, replacing the congested and underdeveloped existing routes that have long hindered industrial and commercial traffic in the area.
Mr Shah said that once completed, the road would provide a direct and efficient link between the M-9 Motorway (Karachi–Hyderabad) and the National Highway (N-5), significantly reducing travel time and facilitating the movement of cargo from Port Qasim to the motorway network and other key destinations across the province.
He added that the 22-kilometre New Link Road project is nearing completion, with substantial progress on the new interchange at M-9 (kilometre 34+740). This R3.53 billion project is being executed in collaboration with the National Highway Authority (NHA) and its concessionaire, FWO, the CM shared.
He was informed that the interchange construction is divided into three segments: southbound, bridge over M-9, and northbound. Work on the southbound segment is underway and is expected to be completed by next month. At this, the chief minister directed the PPP Unit to complete the work so he could inaugurate it on July 25. He also stated that once the New Link Road is opened, the old Link Road would be closed.
Construction on the bridge and northbound sections began on April 24, 2025, and is progressing steadily. The chief minister directed the PPP Unit to complete the entire interchange by the end of Oct 2025 to improve connectivity and traffic flow on the M-9 Motorway. Upon the opening of the New Link Road, the old Link Road will be closed to traffic.
Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway
The chief minister said 82pc of work on the 39-kilometre, 3×3 lane high-speed access-controlled Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway has been completed. This expressway connects DHA Korangi to the Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) near Kathore and includes six interchanges, multiple toll plazas and modern facilities designed to enhance traffic flow and industrial connectivity in Karachi.
He said 99pc of work on the first segment, from Qayyumabad to Quaidabad, has been completed while the second segment, from Quaidabad to Kathore, has reached 65pc completion. Key interchanges such as EBM, Shah Faisal and Quaidabad have been completed, with Jam Sadiq and Memon Goth interchanges showing significant progress despite delays caused by utility relocations and concurrent Yellow Line corridor work.
The Samo Goth elevated structure, a 4-kilometre stretch over the Malir River bed aimed at preserving local villages, has achieved 48pc physical progress since the construction began in August 2024. Preparations for the Kathore Interchange at M-9 are underway, with the Finance department approving a competitive bidding process to ensure timely execution.
Korangi causeway bridge
About the Korangi Causeway Bridge project, he said it was progressing rapidly, with 80pc of the work completed. This Rs6.1 billion project, featuring a 26-metre-wide bridge, is scheduled for completion by Nov 2025. The junction at Shahrah-i-Bhutto and Korangi Causeway has received administrative approval, with tendering underway and construction expected to commence by mid-August 2025. Once the Korangi Causeway Bridge becomes operational, the existing causeway road will be closed, the chief minister added.
Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025