First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari today inaugurated two major road infrastructure projects in Shaheed Benazirabad, worth a total of over Rs. 1 billion and expected to enhance transportation for the village’s nearly 39,000 residents.
The new schemes focus on the rehabilitation and expansion of key routes near Sultan Mori and Colonel Mori to improve regional connectivity and support the local agricultural economy.
The First Lady, who is also a Member of the National Assembly, was accompanied by Provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Samad Nizamani, and other senior officials.
Addressing the attendees, she stated that improving rural road networks remains a priority for the Pakistan Peoples Party, noting that such developments are crucial for advancing access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
The First Lady remarked that the initiatives are part of a vision established by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to bring underdeveloped areas into the developmental mainstream, a goal being carried forward by the party”s current leadership.
One of the projects, a 27-kilometre road improvement and expansion from Mehran Highway (Bandhi) to 60-Mile, has been completed at a cost of Rs 738.479 million. This scheme involved widening a significant 18.50-kilometre section from 12 feet to 18 feet.
A second 17-kilometre rehabilitation project, from Bandhi-Sultan Mori Road to 3-Chak, is in its final stages. Costing Rs 335.154 million, it is scheduled for completion in the 2024-25 fiscal year and will benefit around 12,000 people across 13 villages.
According to a briefing by Executive Engineer Asim Ali Abro, the upgrades will significantly reduce travel times, provide farmers with more efficient routes to market, and contribute to safer travel and improved traffic flow.
Collectively, the projects connect 31 villages and several Union Councils, including Somer Khan Jamali, Amir Ji Obhari Sawari, and Khair Shah, aiming to bolster transport, trade, and access to basic services for the local populace.