KARACHI : In a landmark development for Pakistan’s economic hub, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has unveiled plans for a transformative corridor along Shahrah-e-Bhutto, stretching from Qayyumabad to Karachi Port. The project, designed to streamline port traffic access to the Motorway, promises to revolutionize the city’s logistics network and ease chronic congestion.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting at CM House attended by key officials, including Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and senior bureaucrats. CM Shah emphasized the corridor’s strategic value, stating it would complement the upcoming Link Road (connecting the National Highway to the Motorway) and serve industrial zones like Port Qasim, Landhi, and Korangi. The entire Shahrah-e-Bhutto route—from Korangi Causeway to Kathore—is slated for public use by December 2025.
A private firm has proposed executing the project under a Design-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DFOT) model, featuring a 16.5-km road (including a 10.4-km elevated section) from Jam Sadiq Interchange to Karachi Port. The corridor will link Qayyumabad to Boat Basin, Ziauddin Chowrangi, and East Wharf, with interchanges optimized for residential and commercial traffic.
To ensure seamless implementation, CM Shah directed the PPP Unit to fast-track NOCs from federal and provincial agencies and complete an environmental study promptly. He also highlighted progress on the Red Line BRT and Sohrab Goth roundabout redesign, underscoring the government’s multi-pronged approach to decongesting Karachi.
The corridor is expected to slash travel times for port-bound cargo, bolstering trade efficiency and reducing logistics costs. CM Shah affirmed that these projects would “transform Karachi’s functionality and aesthetics,” ultimately improving citizens’ quality of life.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to modernize Karachi’s infrastructure, including recent advancements in direct shipping links with Bangladesh and the revival of international air routes. With construction timelines set, stakeholders are optimistic about the project’s potential to stimulate economic growth and elevate Karachi’s status as a regional commercial gateway.