KARACHI: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives on Monday assessed the progress of schemes of Sindh under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2024-2025.

Presided over by committee’s chairperson Senator Quratulain Marri, the meeting also focused on allocations of funds and the status of key infrastructure initiatives intended to boost development across Sindh.

It was attended by committee members Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and senior government officials.

According to a press release, the committee reviewed progress related to disbursement of Rs49 billion which has been allocated for 12 schemes under PSDP 2024-2025 for Sindh.

It discussed in detail each scheme under PSDP for Sindh and addressed issues related to timely release of funds by the ministry of finance.

The committee urged the ministry of planning and development and the ministry of finance to ensure timely release funds as that is essential for the well-being of the people of Sindh.

Mayor Murtaza Wahab emphasised the urgency of completing the K-IV water project to address Karachi’s water shortage as it is essential to meeting the needs of millions of people living in the city and as well as the completion of all key transit project aimed at easing urban congestion in the city.

Furthermore, the committee also reviewed progress on projects including rehabilitation/ construction of roads in SITE Industrial area, construction of Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway, additional carriageway along Mehran Highway from Nawab­shah, and improvement of road from Rohri to Guddu Barrage.

The meeting ended with a call for collaborative efforts to ensure completion of schemes within time as they are critical to the development of the province.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2024