Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced a major step forward in Karachi’s urban development with the partial opening of Shahrah-e-Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Shahrah-e-Bhutto), a transformative infrastructure project. The project, costing Rs. 54.7 billion, aims to modernize the city’s roads and improve connectivity.
During the inauguration ceremony, attended by Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Former Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and other senior officials, CM Murad Shah highlighted that the new 9.1-kilometre segment, stretching from the Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway at Qayumabad to the Shah Faisal Interchange, would significantly ease the city’s traffic congestion. The high-speed, access-controlled corridor is designed to relieve congestion and serve as an alternative to Shahrah-e-Faisal. Once completed, it will reduce travel time from over an hour to just 25 minutes and improve access to key industrial zones. The full 38.75-kilometre expressway is slated for completion by 2025.
Murad Shah referred to Shahrah-e-Bhutto as a “lifeline for Karachi’s future,” underscoring its role in the city’s long-term growth. He credited the project as a realization of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s vision from the Karachi Package (1994-95), which aimed at modernizing infrastructure and addressing the city’s congestion. PPP’s Public-Private Partnership model was key to financing the project, with the Sindh government contributing Rs. 31.3 billion.
The Shahrah-e-Bhutto is expected to play a pivotal role in improving trade and logistics, particularly for the Karachi Port Trust. The Shahrah-e-Bhutto Zero Point, which will extend from Karachi Port to Korangi, is also in the pipeline to further enhance connectivity. Additionally, the Chief Minister announced plans to bring an additional 400 MGD of water to Karachi, addressing the city’s growing water needs. He also highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway, and expressed his commitment to completing the Shahrah-e-Bhutto project ahead of schedule. Murad Shah emphasised the government’s determination to continue developing Karachi as a model city that will inspire the nation. He invited local investors to contribute to future projects under the PPP model, aiming for sustained urban progress and prosperity.
