Pakistan builds what will be the longest river bridge in Southern Asia, the Ghotki-Kandhkot bridge, extending over 12.5 kilometers through the Industry River in the Sindh province. The project, which should be completed by 2028 at an estimated cost of 30.5 billion rupees, aims to improve regional connectivity and stimulate economic development.
“It will be the longest river bridge in the South Asian region,” said Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, special assistant to the Sindh-Chief of Sindh on investment and public-private partnership, during a meeting with members of the business world.
Qamar noted that construction work has been underway for two years and is currently advancing at their own pace. “We aim to complete and inaugurate the bridge by 2028,” he added.
Strategically located at the tri-judry of Sindh, Punjab and Balutchistan, the bridge should considerably reduce travel time across the Indus from 2.5 hours to only 15 minutes. Beyond improving mobility, it is also considered a solution for persistent problems of the law and order and abduction incidents in the Katcha regions, the underdeveloped low-lining regions near the banks.
“While Ghotki has experienced a certain industrial development and a better road infrastructure, Kandhkot has been late. This bridge will help open job possibilities and improve Kandhkot livelihoods,” Qamar said.
During the meeting, Qamar and its team also presented nearly a dozen infrastructure and social sector projects, including roads, schools, hospitals and special economic areas, with combined investment potential of more than 616 billion rupees. The objective, he said, is to attract private sector investments through public-private partnerships.
The main business leaders present were MNA Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Zubair Motiwala de Kcci, the industrialist Arif Habib and other key stakeholders such as Arif Elahi, Danish Khan, Junaid Naqi, Zahid Saeed, Sameer Chinoy and Danish Elahi.
