• Sindh govt hosts ‘Uraan Pakistan’ workshop at CM House
• Planning minister warns against ‘misuse’ of social media for harassment and hate speech
• Murad vows to fight for Sindh’s water rights through legal, constitutional means

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Monday announced that work on the much-delayed Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project along with the reconstruction of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway would start next year.

Addressing a joint press conference along with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah after attending the “Uraan Pakistan” workshop here at the CM House, he praised the Sindh government for its full cooperation in national development projects and invited the private sector and civil society to join the efforts for economic growth.

The Sindh government hosted the “Uraan Pakistan” workshop, where CM Shah outlined the challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Iqbal said that the completion of Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project and reconstruction of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway would make it more efficient for port connectivity.

Referring to the country’s energy future, Mr Iqbal pointed out that Sindh had a 400-year coal reserve, which, in collaboration with the provincial government, was being utilised to make the province an energy hub.

The minister acknowledged past injustices against Sindh during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government and appreciated CM Shah’s data-driven approach in advocating for the province’s rights. “On the CM’s request, we have included several Sindh projects in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP),” he said.

The federal minister reassured that all provinces would receive their fair share of resources and that no province would be deprived of its rights by another.

He expressed concern over the country’s rising population growth rate of 2.55 per cent, warning that if left unchecked, it could lead to collapse of the economy.

Mr Iqbal highlighted improvements in exports, energy, inflation control, and stock market indicators but stressed that Pakistan’s key to success lies in political stability. “Right now, we don’t need a political long march — we need an economic long march,” he stated.

CM concerned over water crisis

CM Shah expressed concerns over water shortages in Sindh, saying that while there were reports of the Cholistan Canal’s approval, there was no water available in the system to support new canals.

He said that the provincial government would fight for its water rights through legal and constitutional means rather than protests.

“We do not need to take to the streets; we can prove our case with facts and figures,” the CM said, adding that the telemetry system would ultimately reveal the true water distribution data.

Social Media Regulations

To a question, minister Iqbal reaffirmed the government’s commitment to media freedom but warned against misusing social media for harassment and hate speech. “Freedom of expression does not mean harassing [people’s] mothers and sisters online,” he added.

The federal stated that in every coalition government, differences arise, but they are also resolved. “The alliance between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is stable, as both parties have a mechanism to address concerns,” he said, adding that there was no threat to the government’s coalition.

He said that a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was actively maintaining communication between both parties.

The federal minister criticised PTI, stating that despite holding numerous rallies before May 9, the government never created any obstacles. However, he claimed that PTI is now running a campaign against Pakistan that is more damaging than that of India’s intelligence agency RAW.

Earlier, the federal minister attended the first provincial workshop on “Uraan Pakistan” at the CM House.

The session was attended by CM Shah, Senior Minister Sindh Sharjeel Inam Memon, Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, senior federal and provincial bureaucrats, civil society, business community, academia and media persons.

Addressing the gathering, the Sindh CM acknowledged the federal government’s sincerity in economic revival and assured that the province was working diligently on the footsteps of federal government on the 5Es dimension of Uraan Pakistan.

He acknowledged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s sincerity in enabling ports but lamented that the country’s exports were less because Karachi port had a transit time of few hours in the night only. “To boost exports we must equip ourselves with requisite infrastructure and roads,” he emphasised.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2025