KARACHI:
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday inaugurated the 39-kilometer Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway and also inaugurated its strategic extension from Qayyumabad to Karachi Port.
The PPP chief said the project is a major milestone for urban mobility, transport efficiency and economic connectivity of Karachi.
The inauguration ceremony of the Sindh government’s flagship infrastructure project was held at Kathore Interchange near the M-9 highway, where Bilawal, accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, officially opened the high-speed corridor for traffic.
Before the ceremony, Bilawal, again accompanied by Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Shah, arrived at Shahrah-e-Bhutto and personally took the highway on its maiden journey, also paying the toll himself.
The recently inaugurated Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway stretches for around 39 kilometers from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Kathore Bridge.
It was developed as a six-lane controlled access corridor with a speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour. The project comprises six interchanges, two main toll plazas, five weigh stations and an underpass, and was completed at a total cost of Rs54.814 billion.
Addressing the ceremony, the PPP chairman said the completion of Shahrah-e-Bhutto reflected his party’s commitment to modern infrastructure, public welfare and long-term urban planning.
“Karachi is the economic engine of Pakistan, and its future depends on modern connectivity, efficient transport systems and sustainable infrastructure,” he said. “The Pakistan People’s Party does not believe in empty slogans. We believe in carrying out projects that improve people’s lives.”
He said Shahrah-e-Bhutto would significantly reduce travel time between central Karachi and the M-9 highway while reducing traffic congestion on existing roads. “This highway is not just a road; it is a new economic corridor that will support trade, investment, industrial growth and job creation,” he added.
The PPP chairman further said that the Qayyumabad to Karachi Port extension project would enhance connectivity between the city’s industrial areas, port infrastructure and national highways.
“Karachi Port is the backbone of Pakistan’s commercial economy, and this expansion will provide a direct, efficient and modern route for the movement of goods and commuters,” he said.
