Manzar Naqvi
KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday inaugurated the newly completed 39-kilometre Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway and performed the groundbreaking of its strategic extension from Qayyumabad to Karachi Port, describing the project as a landmark step toward transforming Karachi’s urban mobility, economic connectivity and transport infrastructure.
The inauguration ceremony of the Sindh government’s flagship infrastructure project was held at Kathore Interchange near the M-9 Motorway, where Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, formally opened the high-speed corridor for traffic.
Before the formal ceremony, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari himself drove on the newly completed expressway during its inaugural journey and also paid the toll tax, symbolically marking the opening of the corridor for public use.
The Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway stretches approximately 39 kilometres from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Kathore Bridge. It has been designed as a six-lane controlled-access corridor with a speed limit of 100 kilometres per hour. The project includes six interchanges, two main toll plazas, five weigh stations and an underpass. It has been completed at a total cost of Rs54.814 billion.
Addressing the ceremony, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the project reflected the Pakistan Peoples Party’s commitment to public welfare, modern infrastructure and long-term urban development.
“Karachi is the economic engine of Pakistan, and its future depends on modern connectivity, efficient transport systems and sustainable infrastructure,” he said, adding that the PPP believed in delivering practical projects that directly improve the lives of people.
Bilawal said Shahrah-e-Bhutto would significantly reduce travel time between central Karachi and the M-9 Motorway while easing pressure on existing congested roads. He said the expressway was not merely a road, but a new economic corridor that would support trade, investment, industrial growth and employment generation.
He added that the extension project from Qayyumabad to Karachi Port would further strengthen connectivity between the city’s industrial areas, port infrastructure and national highways.
“Karachi Port is the backbone of Pakistan’s trade economy, and this extension will provide a direct, efficient and modern route for cargo movement and commuters alike,” Bilawal said.
Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah termed Shahrah-e-Bhutto one of the most important infrastructure projects completed by the Sindh government in recent years. He said the project would bring major relief to commuters, businesses and transporters by providing a faster and safer travel corridor.
“We promised the people of Karachi modern infrastructure, and today we are fulfilling that commitment,” Murad Ali Shah said. “Shahrah-e-Bhutto will improve mobility, reduce fuel consumption, save travel time and provide a safer transport corridor for citizens.”
The chief minister said the expressway had been completed despite economic challenges and rising construction costs, reflecting the Sindh government’s determination to upgrade Karachi’s road network and support the city’s expanding transport needs.
Murad Ali Shah said development projects worth more than Rs1.7 trillion were currently underway in Karachi. He added that the provincial government’s foremost priority was to ensure that no citizen was displaced during
the execution of mega development projects.
He said the newly launched Karachi Port to Qayyumabad Corridor would further integrate Karachi’s transport system and facilitate commercial activity linked to the port, industrial zones and upcountry routes.
The extension project, spanning approximately 16.5 kilometres from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Karachi Port’s East Wharf and SAP Terminal, will include a four-lane corridor with additional spur links, interchanges and tolling infrastructure. It is estimated to cost Rs64.20 billion.
Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Shah informed the ceremony that the extension corridor would provide direct connectivity for cargo and commercial traffic moving to and from Karachi Port. He said it would reduce congestion on existing city roads, improve logistics efficiency and ease heavy-vehicle movement on residential and commercial arteries.
CM Special Assistant Syed Qasim Naveed said Shahrah-e-Bhutto was launched in May 2022 and has an estimated benchmark traffic capacity of more than 23,800 vehicles daily. He said around 17,000 vehicles were already using the Qayyumabad-to-Quaidabad section on an average day.
Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said Shahrah-e-Bhutto was a manifestation of the PPP’s commitment to the people of Karachi, Sindh and Pakistan. He said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had also launched several development projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving connectivity and upgrading civic infrastructure across the metropolis.
Leading businessman and industrialist Arif Habib also welcomed the project and termed it a game-changer for Karachi’s economic connectivity and transport infrastructure. He said the Karachi Port extension would serve as a critical link between the port and upcountry routes.
“This road, without disturbing inner-city traffic, will carry port traffic to and from the upcountry, saving time, reducing transportation costs and boosting trade and industrial activity,” he said.
The Karachi Port extension corridor is expected to accommodate more than 10,000 vehicles daily upon completion.
Provincial ministers, elected representatives, senior government officials, engineers, contractors and leading businessmen attended the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies.
