16.5-km, 4-lane elevated freight expressway to connect Karachi Port to Jam Sadiq Interchange

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In a major move to tackle Karachi’s chronic traffic congestion, the Sindh government has approved the Karachi Port to Qayyumabad Elevated Expressway Project. The decision was finalized during the 48th meeting of the PPP Policy Board, held at the Chief Minister’s House on Friday under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. 

Officials confirmed that the expressway will be built through a public-private partnership (PPP), allowing the government to leverage private sector investment while retaining oversight. During the session, the chief minister instructed authorities to fast-track the remaining documentation so that groundwork and bidding can begin without delay. 

Project Scope and Features 

The project involves the design, financing, and construction of a 16.5-kilometre elevated, four-lane expressway that will run from Karachi Port’s East Wharf to the Jam Sadiq Interchange. Once completed, it is going to reduce the travel route by 26 kilometers, and ultimately deliver many benefits like saving fuel, cutting travel time, and allowing 24/7 movement of heavy vehicles. 

Currently, heavy traffic often clogs main city arteries, disrupting passenger vehicles and slowing cargo movement. The new expressway is intended to divert freight traffic away from busy urban roads and making improvements in overall mobility while enhancing access to the M-9 Motorway and Shahrah-e-Bhutto. 

Read more: Lahore set to open its first expressway connecting Arfa Karim Tower to Raiwind Road

Economic and Infrastructure Benefits 

Officials kept on saying that the expressway is expected to improve port efficiency, reduce container delays and increase logistics productivity. It will also boost trade connectivity and support industries reliant on Karachi Port operations. 

During the meeting, the board ratified various design revisions to ensure better alignment with other transport initiatives. These include: 

• Integration with the Yellow Line BRT 

• Addition of mixed-traffic ramps 

• Enhanced port access points 

• Reduced land acquisition requirements 

Development Model 

The project is going to follow the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model. It will operate on a user-pay basis, with toll collection helping recover costs. To ensure investor confidence, the Sindh government has committed to providing: 

• Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for capital and operational support 

• A minimum revenue guarantee for 10 years 

Government officials kept on explaining the project as the major turning point for transport infrastructure of Karachi, marking a practical step toward decongesting Pakistan’s largest city and supporting long-term economic growth.