Bilawal inaugurates 39-kilometer signal-free Shahrah-e-Bhutto and launches port corridor project

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday inaugurated the 39-kilometer signal-free Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway from Qayyumabad to M-9 Highway and laid the foundation stone of the Qayyumabad Corridor project from Karachi Port.

The inauguration ceremony of Phase III of Shahrah-e-Bhutto was held in Karachi today, after which the road up to Kathore M-9 bridge was opened to the public.

Bilawal attended the ceremony along with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

Among those present at the event were Sindh Assembly Speaker Awais Qadir Shah, senior PPP leaders Nisar Khuhro and Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh Cabinet members, MNAs, MPAs and government secretaries.

During the ceremony, the PPP chairman also laid the foundation stone of Phase II of Shahrah-e-Bhutto, which will connect Karachi port through the corridor.

Addressing the ceremony, Bilawal said that since 2008, the PPP had undertaken more development projects for Karachi than any other party.

He said that although he inaugurated development projects across the country, inaugurating projects in Karachi brought him “special happiness” as he was born and brought up in the city.

The PPP chairman said Pakistan Steel Mills had also been established under former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, adding that Shahrah-e-Faisal and Lyari Expressway were among the major projects provided to the city by the PPP.

He said Karachi offered free and quality healthcare facilities due to his party’s policies, adding that people from all over the country wanted to settle in the metropolis.

“I invite you with all my heart,” he said, describing Karachi as the economic and health capital of Pakistan.

Responding to criticism of the 18th Amendment, Bilawal invited his political opponents to compare the condition of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases before and after the constitutional amendment.

He said the PPP government had expanded a network of free and quality healthcare services across Sindh, adding that treatment of international standards was being provided free of charge.

The PPP chairman said he remained committed to completing the unfinished mission and struggle of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

“As Benazir Bhutto’s son, I have completed this project,” he said, adding that the PPP had demonstrated its ability to complete major infrastructure projects.

Bilawal said Shahrah-e-Bhutto was built under a public-private partnership model, adding that the project was completed in the same manner as the Thar coal initiative.

He said it was the responsibility of the government to address the problems faced by the country, Sindh and Karachi.

Referring to the economic situation, the PPP chairman said that financial difficulties continue to increase, while the burden of global conflicts is also borne by ordinary people.

He said the public was feeling the effects of tensions between Iran and the United States in the form of higher fuel and electricity costs.

Those working for peace and a ceasefire are “doing God’s work,” he said, adding that if the conflict continued, he feared the people of Pakistan would face grave hardships.

Bilawal said prayers were being offered for the efforts of the Field Marshal and the Prime Minister’s team aimed at achieving a ceasefire, and expressed hope that the peace efforts would be successful soon.

He said the government was continuing its efforts to address public issues, adding that the Sindh government was providing subsidies to farmers through the Kissan Card scheme as well as assistance to motorcyclists.

Shahrah-e-Bhutto reflects PPP’s vision, says CM Murad

Earlier, in his speech at the ceremony, CM Shah congratulated the people of Pakistan on the completion of Shahrah-e-Bhutto, describing it as a modern highway project that would provide “tension-free travel” to commuters across the country.

He said the project was among the plans envisaged for Karachi under the Rs 121 billion development package announced by Benazir.

The prime minister said the road was named after the PPP, whom he credited with giving the country its nuclear programme.

CM Shah said Shahrah-e-Bhutto would be opened from Qayyumabad to M-9 highway, facilitating smooth movement of traffic for people traveling from different parts of the country.

He said the project took between four and four and a half years to complete, adding that efforts were made to ensure no one was displaced during construction.

“That speed of work is rarely seen anywhere in Pakistan,” he said.

The chief minister said Bilawal had also laid the foundation stone for the Qayyumabad-port section of the project, which would be completed under public-private partnership at an estimated cost of Rs 65 billion.

He expressed hope that the next phase would be completed before the next general elections and said that all traffic linked to Karachi port would eventually move to the corridor.

Describing Shahrah-e-Bhutto as a difficult undertaking, Shah said the project was bigger in both length and width than the Lyari Expressway.

He said the government intended to complete the next phase within two and a half years.

Referring to the criticism faced by the PPP, the prime minister said the party’s expectations remain high because it is in government.

“People complain to the PPP because they consider it their own party and they also expect solutions from it,” he said.

Shah said development projects worth Rs 1.7 trillion were currently being carried out in Karachi, including schemes worth Rs 528 billion being carried out through foreign funding.

Noting that Karachi was a city of more than 20 million people, he said relocation issues often caused difficulties for affected residents, who naturally raised concerns.

The prime minister said the PPP hoped to get more votes in the upcoming elections and claimed that the party had received the highest electoral support in its history in the 2024 elections.

During the ceremony, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also praised the project and said that the PPP leaders were fulfilling the promises made to the people of Karachi, adding that President Bilawal frequently asked about the progress of projects in the city.

Responding to criticism against the party, he said those who claim that the PPP is not working should “look at Shahrah-e-Bhutto”.

He said the Lyari Expressway had taken 16 years to complete and required relocation of thousands of residents, while Shahrah-e-Bhutto would facilitate traffic movement across the country.

Wahab added that the PPP framed policies for the entire country and was not limited to the areas surrounding GT Road.

Describing the occasion as “a matter of pride”, Special Assistant on Public-Private Partnership Naveed Qamar said that while Phase III had been inaugurated, the foundation stone for the Qayyumabad-port stretch had also been laid and work on the project would begin immediately.

He thanked all the project partners and said the Sindh government had reposed confidence in the team, while President Bilawal had regularly pushed for progress on the project.

According to him, Phase III of Shahrah-e-Bhutto was completed at a cost of Rs 65 billion, while approximately Rs 65 billion would be spent on the Qayyumabad to port section.

PPP Karachi Division Chairman Saeed Ghani said the Sindh government was carrying out hundreds of development projects in Karachi, adding that critics did not recognize the work being done.

He said that if the residents of Karachi were not satisfied with the PPP, the city would not have elected a PPP mayor. He added that for the first time in history, the party had secured such a large number of MNAs and MPAs from Karachi and expressed confidence that the PPP would also win the upcoming local government elections.