Construction on a crucial phase of the Green Line project on M.A. Jinnah Road is set to recommence after a consensus was reached among key stakeholders, resolving reservations previously raised by Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab that had led to a suspension of the work on September 18.
According to an official information from the mayors office today, the breakthrough, announced at a joint press conference, signals a unified front between the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the federal government, and MQM Pakistan to advance the city’s major infrastructure initiatives.
Mayor Wahab stated that while such urban undertakings ultimately benefit citizens, the public often faces difficulties during the construction phase. He emphasized that his primary concern was ensuring foundational issues like drainage and sewerage were addressed before proceeding. “We fully support development works, but our position has been that drainage and sewerage issues must first be resolved,” he remarked, recalling that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation was not taken into confidence when the new phase initially began.
In a call for greater local oversight, the Mayor asserted that true empowerment of the local government system would see all projects executed by the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) being channeled through the KMC and his office. While thanking the Prime Minister for the project funding, Wahab also requested further development schemes for the metropolis, stressing, “if we all work together for this city, no force can stop its progress.”
Raja Khaleeq uz Zaman Ansari, the Federal Government’s Spokesperson for Sindh, confirmed that the Mayor’s concerns had been successfully addressed. He detailed that the current phase covers a 1.9-kilometer stretch and is slated for completion by October 31, 2026. Ansari affirmed that work for a permanent solution to sewerage and stormwater drainage would also be undertaken as part of the initiative.
MQM Pakistan leader Ameen ul Haq described the Mayor”s earlier objections as “valid” and underscored the importance of meeting the 2026 deadline. He noted that the presence of all stakeholders at the conference was a positive sign, reflecting that “all institutions involved in Karachi’s major projects are now on one page.” Haq added that if Karachi progresses, it will lead to the progress of both Sindh and the nation.
In a related development, Mayor Wahab announced that obstacles concerning the Red Line project have also been cleared under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Sindh, with formal work expected to begin within days. “We are all working together to serve Karachi and solve its problems,” he concluded.
The press conference was also attended by Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad, Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khurshidi, PIDCL CEO Waseem Hayat Bajwa, and other prominent political and civic leaders.