Karachi:
The senior minister of Sindh, Sharjeel Inam Memon, has emphasized that Hyderabad-Sukkur highway is not only vital for Sindh, but is strategic importance for trade and the general connectivity of Pakistan.
He pointed out that the port of Karachi is the central center for imports and exports of the country, and there is no more suitable route than the Hyderab-Sukkur highway to facilitate this movement.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Memon emphasized that Prime Minister Murad Ali Shah repeatedly remembered the federal government of this project, even sending official letters.
“Recently, federal ministers gave guarantees that the funds for the project would be included in the next budget,” he said.
However, Memon clarified that the construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur highway is the responsibility of the federal government, not from the Sindh government.
“They told us that this project would begin soon and will be completed quickly. But with the amount assigned, the project cannot start immediately, nor can it be completed in time,” he added.
Calling the mere “money token,” Memon said the budgeted amount is totally inadequate for a project of said scale.
“The great infrastructure projects of this nature require full funds, not symbolic assignments,” he said. “These are typically several years, which require at least 30-40% of the total budget in the first year, as well as other national projects.”
He criticized the federal government for assigning only RS15 billion, saying that it does not reflect the equity of the project or the seriousness of national development.
“This assignment does not serve the interests of Pakistan,” he said.
Sharjeel Memon also expressed serious reservations on budget allocations for the K-IV water supply project, stating that the funds assigned were highly insufficient.
