KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday reviewed the progress of K-IV water supply scheme under which the provincial government was taking measures to restore the KB Feeder and Keenjhar Lake.

Provincial Ministers Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Ali Hassan Zardari, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman Planning & Development (P&D) Najam Shah, Secretary Works Mohammad Ali Khoso, Secretary Irrigation Zarif Khero, Zubair Channa of P&D, and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

Chairing a joint meeting of the irrigation department and works & services department at the CM House, the chief minister directed the authorities to prepare a plan for dualising the road from Jamshoro Phatak (railway crossing) to Hyderabad via Kotri Barrage.

While reviewing the K-IV water supply project, the CM discussed the restoration of the KB Feeder and Keenjhar Lake, a Rs39.9 billion project, with the federal government contributing Rs19.4bn. To date, Rs4bn has been spent, and the chief minister urged the authorities to expedite the work.

Restoration of KB Feeder, Keenjhar Lake also discussed during meeting

Emphasising the importance of infrastructure and water projects for Sindh’s development, CM Shah directed all departments to ensure the effective execution and timely completion of initiatives aimed at improving public services across the province.

The Chief Minister was briefed on 799 ongoing development schemes under the Works & Services Department, with a total cost of Rs. 166 billion. He stressed the need for timely completion and high-quality execution, instructing officials to finalise all ongoing projects before the end of the financial year.

The CM stated that for the fiscal year 2024-25, the government has not introduced any new schemes but is focusing on completing existing projects. Of the Rs55bn allocated this year, Rs37bn has already been utilised, while the throw-forward liability stands at Rs111bn.

Major Infrastructure & Water Projects

CM Shah also reviewed the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) system, a project initially estimated at Rs115.4bn under the federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) but revised to Rs172bn. He directed the officials to obtain approval for the project from the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and noted that no expenditure had been made so far. This year’s allocation is Rs100m.

Additionally, he instructed the dualisation of the Jamshoro Phatak Road up to Kotri Barrage, calling it an essential infrastructure upgrade. “The construction of this road would accommodate light traffic in Hyderabad city,” he said.

Coastal Highway

During discussion on the Coastal Highway, the CM was informed that the 36-kilometer extension of the Coastal Highway is facing cost overruns. The project, initially estimated at Rs16.2bn, has seen its revised cost rise to Rs29.9bn.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2025