In a fresh push to ease traffic misery and improve daily commuting in Pakistan’s largest city, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has drawn up a major Rs 9.5 billion rehabilitation plan for roads. The scheme focuses on repairing and upgrading more than 26 important roads that fall under various Town Municipal Corporations (TMCs) across the city.
These are not small neighbourhood streets, but busy arteries that tens of thousands of people use every day to get to work, school, markets, and hospitals. Over the years, heavy traffic, poor drainage, and lack of maintenance have left many of these roads broken, uneven, and prone to waterlogging — and this is making even short trips frustrating and time-consuming.
Rs 9.5 Billion Proposal is Ready for Approval
The new plan is intended to tackle these issues head-on. KMC will now submit the Rs 9 billion proposal to the Sindh government for approval under the Special Karachi Development Grant. If approved, the funds will be used to recarpet worn-out roads, fix damaged sections, improve drainage, and upgrade related infrastructure like footpaths and road markings.
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A high-level meeting to review the plan and other ongoing projects was held at the KMC Head Office, chaired by Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab. The session brought together key city and provincial officials, including:
• Secretary Local Government Waseem Shamshad
• Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi
• KMC Municipal Commissioner Syed Afzal Zaidi
• Special Secretary Local Government Azhar Shah
• Financial Advisor Gulzar Abro
• Senior Director Coordination Ikhlaq Yousafzai
• Director Media Daniyal Siyal
• Other senior officers from relevant departments
During the meeting, officials held a comprehensive review of different development schemes and urban improvement programmes currently under consideration. The road rehabilitation plan was discussed as a central piece of Karachi’s broader strategy to improve urban mobility, road safety, and connectivity between different parts of the city.
For ordinary Karachiites, this plan represents more than just fresh asphalt. Better roads can mean:
• Shorter travel times and fewer traffic jams
• Reduced vehicle damage caused by potholes and broken surfaces
• Improved safety for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians
• Easier movement for public transport, ambulances, and school vans
Read more: Karachi approves Rs 1.4 billion flyover on Azeempura Road
Functioning road activity maintains growth and economic activity
Mayor Murtaza Wahab emphasized that Karachi’s growth and economic activity depend heavily on a functioning road network. The rehabilitation of key corridors, he noted, is extremely important if the city is to keep pace with its rising population and expanding urban footprint.
If the provincial government signs off on the Special Karachi Development Grant, work on these 26+ roads could mark a visible change in the city’s everyday life — turning neglected stretches of asphalt into smoother, safer routes for millions of daily commuters.