KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday directed the city administrator and local government secretary to get the work on Hawkesbay and Shershah roads done by June.

He gave the directions while visiting three different sites of ongoing schemes. He said that he wanted to inspect the project personally so that the quality and pace of work could be ascertained.

CM Shah started his visit from Machhli Chowk where Hawkesay Road was being constructed and then went to Lyari where different roads were under construction up to Shershah in district West. Finally, he visited Kakri Ground where work on building a huge sports complex was in progress.

The construction of Kakri Ground Complex was launched with an estimated cost of Rs700 million under which a football ground and jogging track were being constructed.

Slams PTI govt for ‘increasing’ poverty in country

The renovation of football stadium, construction of new pavilion with all basic facilities, development of a football practice ground, rehabilitation of boxing club and karate academy, rehabilitation of park, upgrade of streets with improved carriageway, wide walks and landscape and construction of connecting streets with public spaces through hard landscape that includes benches, street lights and signage were also part of the project.

Hawkesbay Road includes rehabilitation of existing carriageway from Machhli Chowk to KANUPP. The 5.59-km-long project was launched with an estimated cost of Rs840m on Dec 23, 2021 and it would be completed by December this year.

The scheme of construction of road from Shershah Chwok to Mirza Adam Khan Road intersection and construction of a storm-water drain was launched on March 4 with an estimated cost of Rs439.68m.

The chief minister directed Administrator Murtaza Wahab to get work on the scheme completed by June 30.

A scheme for construction of three roads — Tannery Road, Chakiwara Road and Mehrab Khan Essa Road — in Lyari was launched on Feb 19 with a cost of Rs995.46m. The project is scheduled to be completed by June 30.

Later, talking to media, the chief minister said that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari started a long march to seek public opinion about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.

“It has become a unanimous demand of the people of the country to get rid of Imran Niazi at the earliest,” he said.

Talking about the plan to table no-confidence motion against the prime minister, Mr Shah said that the MNAs of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf would support the [no confidence] move, if they wanted to win the next election.

“Imran Khan has not only increased poverty in the country but also brought the country into isolation,” he said, adding that the country could no longer afford such a “failed” foreign policy.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2022