The planning minister, Ahsan IQBAL, has urged the Government of Sindh to prioritize the development of the Karachi infrastructure, particularly the K-IV water supply project, calling the economic and financial center of the city of Pakistan, said Express News.
In statements to the media after a meeting with members of the Pakistan Business Council, Iqbal said that the Federal Government is investing RS125B in the K-IV project and hopes that the provincial government will fulfill its responsibilities with respect to the subsequent components.
He stressed that Karachi, being the economic track of Pakistan, must receive infrastructure support focused. “The Federal Government has already approved RS5B for the construction of roads in the industrial area of the site,” he said.
Iqbal stressed that the Federal Government will play an active role in improving Karachi’s infrastructure, referring to the successful completion of the Green Line BRT project, which saw an RS25B investment.
During the informative session, he emphasized the need to take advantage of the potential of the corporate sector as the main engine of economic growth. He explained that the capacity of the public sector to attract investment has decreased due to the ongoing crises, which makes the role of private company more crucial.
In addition, he pointed out that the Government has launched several initiatives to boost youth skills in the IT sector and intends to collaborate with the corporate sector to meet global environmental standards. He praised corporate efforts to support women and people with disabilities, urging continuous improvements in these areas.
“We will form a working group within the Ministry of Planning to address the challenges of the private sector on priority,” he added. “The Pakistan Business Council has promised its cooperation and its research continues to help shape effective economic policies.”
Iqbal reiterated that public-private associations would be key to activating unused assets and government land.
In addition, he confirmed that the work on the Hyderabad-Sukkur highway will begin in 2025, with the expected end in three years. The Ministry of Communications has also begun viability work for a new alignment of the Hyderabad-Karachi highway.
Concluding his comments, Iqbal asked for the recycling of wastewater in Karachi, which suggests its reuse in agriculture and industry, which would help address the city’s water needs sustainably.
