Developmental Projects worth PKR 800 Billion proposed as part of Sindh Government’s Karachi Transformation Plan

Sindh’s Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced in a bid to transform Karachi in "true letter and spirit", the provincial government has launched 24 projects worth Rs802.39 Billion in the city, and he expected the federal government to match the amount when the Prime Minister announces Federal Government’s share in the Karachi Transformation Plan.

The chief minister commented that if these projects complete, Karachi would be transformed into a modern city.

The projects under the development plan are either on going or are planned to be executed in the future. The proposed plan consists of projects regarding resolving the water supply issues, treating sewerage water, solid waste management, clearing water from nullahs/temporary storage and dewatering facility, building and repainting of roads, and mass transit projects, including the Karachi Circular Railway. The timeline of the completion of these projects ranges from 1 year to 5 years.

The details of the projects are as follows :

Water Supply :

It was announced that the provincial government has spent Rs11.30 Billion on Phase-I of K-IV project, however, Rs46.30 Billion more were required for its completion. The total cost of the project is Rs60 Billion.

An another scheme of 30 MGD water supply for the District South costing Rs7 Billion and the upgradation of the KWSB Hub water supply system for Rs6 Billion.

“30 water supply schemes being launched under the annual development plans (ADP) programme for Rs17.50 Billion against which Rs3.1 Billion have already been utilized and remaining Rs13.30 Billion are yet to be released,” Shah said.

Sewerage Treatment and Disposal

Projects worth Rs163.60 Billion have been proposed in order to solve Karachi’s issues regarding sewerage treatment and disposal. The Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (S-III), including treatment of TP-1 and TP-III for 150-300 MGD, costing Rs36.2 Million is under construction on which Rs10.70 Million have been spent so far.

Infrastructure and services components, including parks, internal roads, and sewerage will cost Rs18.30 Billion and will be financed by the World Bank(WB) through the CLICK project.

The Chief Minister said that Five Combined Effluent Treatment Plants for Industrial areas of Karachi will cost Rs11.8 Billion and this cost will be shared between the WB and the Government of Sindh(GOS) in which the provincial government would share 33% of the cost.

According to the document, several projects have been announced under this category and they are mostly shared between the Asian Development Bank(ADP),WB and the GOS. The required funding to finance these projects is Rs141.20 Billion.

Storm Water Drains and Resettlement of Roads

Projects worth Rs4.30 Billion have been proposed for the cleaning of storm water drains madness the resettlement of roads.

According to the Chief Minister, Cleaning of water from sewerage and storm water drains and dewatering facility will cost Rs1.7 Billion. He also added that 10 ADP schemes of stormwater drains and nullahs will cost Rs3 Billion.

Roads

Four projects worth Rs63.30 Billion were announced which will be financed by the ADP, WB and Public Private Partnership(PPP).

Mass Transit System

Six projects worth Rs447.43 Billion of developing a mass transit system in the city have been proposed

According to the Chief Minister, these projects include the restoration Karachi Circular Railway(KCR) which will cost a considerable amount of Rs300 Billion and the construction of boundary fencing of the KCR project along with the existing alignment of the project will be done in Rs23 Million.

Construction of underpasses and flyovers on railway crossing along the KCR route will cost up to Rs5 Billion.

Other projects of the MRT system include the BRT Orange Line (4.76 km) which will cost Rs2.36 Billion, the BRT Red Line (26.6 km) which will be completed at a cost of Rs78 Billion, and the BRT Yellow Line (21 km) which will cost Rs61.44 Billion.

Solid Waste Management

Four Projects of solid waste management worth Rs14.86 Billion were also proposed. These projects will be funded by the ADB and the WB and will be led by the GOS.