The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will spend Rs46 billion on city-wide development projects during the current financial year, Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab announced, setting an ambitious target for his team to complete 799 schemes by June 30.
Addressing a press conference at the KMC head office on Monday, the Mayor declared the current period as “the year of development” and outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at providing immediate relief to citizens.
A significant portion of the funds, Rs 4 billion, has been allocated for the improvement of four of the city’s major corridors. Key road infrastructure projects include the reconstruction of Jahangir Road for Rs 300 million and Business Recorder Road. Additionally, two alternative routes from the Natha Khan Flyover will be built at a cost of Rs 850 million, with work slated to begin by the end of January.
Further transport-related schemes involve a new flyover at Azeempura costing Rs 1.5 billion, the construction of Gulshan-e-Hadeed Road to Allah Wali Chowrangi for approximately Rs 495 million, and an investment of about Rs 1 billion for the Hub River Road towards Ittehad Town.
The administration is also focusing on resolving the city”s persistent water supply issues. The Mayor confirmed the completion of repair work on the old canal from Hub Dam, a move expected to benefit District West and Keamari. He also announced that an elevated water line costing Rs 2.25 billion is being established for Lyari and that the tendering process for the K-IV project augmentation would commence shortly.
In the first six months of the financial year, the KMC completed 2.246 million square feet of asphalt carpeting and laid 8.5 million square feet of paver blocks. Plans for the next six months include an additional 945,000 square feet of asphalt work and over 3.828 million square feet of paver block installation.
Public amenities and recreational spaces are also receiving attention. The mayor noted that work on new graveyards would soon begin with a budget of Rs 400 million. “A bird aviary is being constructed at Kidney Hill Park for Rs 200 million, and a new public park is being developed at Gutter Baghicha for Rs150 million. Renovations of the historic Hothi and Lee Markets are also underway.”
Regarding public transport, Mayor Wahab stated that TransKarachi would accelerate work on the Red Line project on University Road, with a significant portion of the infrastructure expected to be finished between March and July following recent payments to the contractor.
He reported that the KMC’s financial condition is clearly improving and that many of the challenges faced by the municipal body have largely been overcome. Citing the first bids for the recent PIA auction coming from the city, he described Karachi as Pakistan’s game changer and lamented that negative propaganda distorts its true image.
The Mayor concluded by assuring that there would be no compromise on transparency and no tolerance for corruption, stating that after two years of effort, his administration is now providing tangible delivery to the citizens.