KARACHI, June 6: Work on over a dozen projects has either come to a halt or is progressing at a snail’s pace following dissolution of the city government. The projects on which work has suffered include Shahrah-i-Quaideen Flyover, Jehangir Road, Shahrah-i-Orangi, Siddiq Wahab Road, Pir Sibghatullah Road, North Nazimabad’s Shahrah-i-Jehangir and an underpass at FTC Flyover. Besides, work on Manghopir Road’s second phase has not yet begun despite issuance of work order.

Such a situation has been attributed to contractors’ apprehensions that they might not be able to get the money they would be spending.

However, according to chairman of contractors’ association, Fareed Quraishi, work on the on-going projects has come to a halt mainly because of recent increase in prices of bitumen, crush and cement.

Sindh chief minister’s advisor on local government Wasim Akhtar dispelled the impression that there is any bar on the execution of on-going projects, saying except for initiating any development scheme, there is no ban on the approved on-going schemes.

“In fact, work on a number of projects was slowed down by former nazims deliberately much before the issuance of the budgets-related notification so that they could easily put the blame for such delays on the provincial government,” he said, adding he had already asked the district coordination officer to apprise him about all those on-going projects which are progressing slowly so that measures could be taken for their expeditious completion.

Allaying the contractors’ fears that they might face hardships in getting payments, he said all those contractors who would accomplish their projects within scheduled period would get their bills on priority.

Mr Akhtar told Dawn that carpeting of a portion of Rashid Minhas Road had already been completed and keeping in view the hardships faced by motorists, he had directed the officials to immediately re-open it for vehicular traffic and expedite the remaining work.

Officials concerned have also been asked to remove construction material and boulders so as to facilitate the motorists and pedestrians, he added.