Valued at Rs. 3,006,690 million, 65% of the physical construction has now been completed
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah presents a birth certificate to a parent during a launch of Civil Registration Management System (CRMS) Mobile Application at CM House in Karachi on November 28. PHOTO: PPI
KARACHI:
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has officially set May 2026 as the final deadline for the completion of the Malir River Bridge.
The chief minister’s directive came after an evaluation of the project’s progress by a specialized team from the Planning and Development (P&D) Department, which also inspected the N-5 Murghi Khana Bridge in Quaidabad to ensure that regional connectivity standards are met. Earlier, in December, the date for the completion of the bridge was March 2026, but it has now been extended.
Technical briefings presented to the Sindh CM reveal that the project valued at Rs. 3,006,690 million, 65% of the physical construction has now been completed. On the fiscal side, approx. 61.6% of the total budget has already been used. CM Shah emphasized that while speed is essential, “quality of development work remains paramount” and warned officials that no shortcuts would be tolerated as the project enters its final stages.
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To ensure the bridge’s structural longevity, the P&D team conducted on-site non-destructive testing (NDT) to verify concrete strength, along with rigorous measurement checks for girders and transoms. The team reported that the current pace of work is satisfactory, although there are still some external obstacles.
To address logistical bottlenecks, the Sindh CM took notice of delays caused by supply shifts. He directed that formal letters be issued to K-Electric to expedite the relocation of their infrastructure, which is currently hindering progress. He also ordered the immediate procurement and stocking of gravel and aggregate materials for the ramps, noting that a seamless supply chain is the only way to ensure the project remains on track for its inauguration in 2026.
In 2022, the traffic police requested the expansion of the bridge, the first bridge built on the Malir River in the city’s history. They sent a letter to the Karachi Commissioner in this regard stating that the National Highway Authority constructed the Malir Bridge in 1970. The bridge has two lanes on each side. In order to ensure smooth traffic flow and reduce commuting times for citizens, it is necessary to widen the bridge from two to four lanes to ensure a quick flow of all vehicular traffic.
