Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered an immediate acceleration of the Karachi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project, citing significant implementation bottlenecks that directly affect millions of commuters. The directive came during a high-level review of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) $1.319 billion portfolio, which revealed a sluggish cumulative fund disbursement of only 38 per cent across five major provincial schemes.
According to the information from the Sindh Chief Minister House on Wednesday, during the meeting at CM House, the Chief Minister expressed overall satisfaction with the scale of cooperation but stressed that the pace of work and fund utilisation required significant improvement. The current ADB portfolio shows that while 67 per cent of contracts have been awarded, financial disbursement lags considerably.
“The Asian Development Bank remains one of Sindh’s most important development partners,” Chief Minister Shah stated. “However, timely execution and accelerated disbursement must remain our top priority.”
The five active ADB-assisted initiatives cover critical sectors such as transport, education, health, urban development, and financial sector reforms. Among these, the Emergency Flood Assistance Project was noted for having a high contract award rate of over 90 per cent, yet the Chief Minister called for its disbursement to be expedited to ensure relief efforts proceed without interruption.
Addressing the BRT Red Line specifically, Mr Shah emphasised the necessity of resolving delays. ‘Mass transit projects like the Red Line are essential for Karachi’s future,’ he remarked. ‘Any delays directly affect millions of commuters. We must ensure that all executing agencies work in close coordination to meet revised timelines.’
The assembly also reviewed progress on human development schemes, including the Sindh Secondary Education Improvement Project. Education Minister Sardar Shah briefed the attendees on the investment aimed at strengthening public education. The Chief Minister described these projects as “long-term investments” crucial to the province”s future social and economic trajectory.
A significant portion of the portfolio, the $400 million Sindh Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project, was also discussed. The Chief Minister underscored that rebuilding homes for flood-affected communities must be a people-centred effort. “It is about restoring dignity, security, and hope for thousands of families,” he noted.
Looking ahead, the Chief Minister instructed Planning and Development Minister Jam Khan Shoro to present a future pipeline of projects for 2025-2028 to the ADB. The proposed multi-billion-dollar investments focus on coastal resilience, sustainable transport, green mobility, water and sanitation, and agriculture, reflecting what he termed “international confidence in Sindh’s reform agenda.”
Concluding the session, Syed Murad Ali Shah directed all relevant departments to intensify project monitoring, tackle procedural delays, and enhance coordination with the ADB. ‘Every dollar invested must translate into tangible benefits for the people of Sindh,’ he affirmed. ‘That is the ultimate measure of success.’