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AND, just like that, the PTI’s ill-timed ‘Second Pakistan Movement’ seems to have been put to rest. The party’s bête noire these days, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, announced on Sunday that the PTI will be reconsidering its options over an extended 90-day period rather than going all out before the Aug 5 deadline given by its jailed chief. It may be recalled that Imran Khan had said last week that the PTI would no longer engage in talks and should instead prepare for a protest movement that would ‘peak’ on Aug 5, coinciding with the two-year anniversary of his incarceration. When the party’s on-ground leadership met on Sunday, many were expecting a comprehensive plan for the protests. Instead, supporters were informed that the showdown would now occur after 90 days.

The KP CM’s statement left many scratching their heads. On one hand, he said that “We have to decide within 90 days whether we should even do politics in this country,” while also regretting that there was no use of politics in the country as “there is no politics.” PTI supporters also got no clarity on the Aug 5 protests, because Mr Gandapur said the campaign would peak that day, but using ‘political means’ instead. Further, the KP CM also contradicted what Mr Khan had said about talks. “Now we are giving an open offer to hold dialogue with us, or we will tread on our own path with a clear timeline and targets,” he said. Interestingly, this U-turn could have been sanctioned by the PTI chief himself, given that other party leaders did not contradict him on the occasion. Such chaos is typical of the PTI, but it seems that the party may just have been walking itself back from the brink. It was clearly in no position to launch a major protest movement, as wished for by Mr Khan, and perhaps realised in time that it would be better to weigh its options carefully. What its next move will be is anybody’s guess. Pressure from the rank and file to secure Mr Khan’s release has been growing, and the party’s on-ground leadership seems at a complete loss as to how to pacify the voices of discontent. One wonders what cards its leaders are hiding up their sleeves, or if they even have any left.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025

ISLAMABAD: A pair of sculptures, being installed at the junction of Iran Avenue and Margalla Road, have been ordered to be removed after criticism over ‘bad taste’.

Several residents of the capital had posted photos on social media of the installation, which resembles depicts two outstretched hands grasping circular orbs.

Many poked fun at the sculpture’s metaphorical connotations, and questioned why it was being installed at the busy thoroughfare.

The sculpture was imported from China and is the brainchild of a private housing society and was being constructed as part of social corporate responsibility efforts.

Dawn reached out to the owner of the society in question, but he refused to comment, saying he was abroad at the moment.

In a written response to Dawn’s queries, a CDA official said that the sculptures cradling distinct spheres were provided to them free of cost by a private housing society and was still in the process of installation.

However, the official said, CDA management had now instructed them to remove it.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025

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