Hyderabad: [ReNews Pakistan]
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the authorities concerned to complete the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Flyover project in Hyderabad by the first week of July, stressing that no further delay will be tolerated in the public interest project.
Chairing a high level meeting at the Chief Minister House, Murad Ali Shah said he would personally visit Hyderabad in July to inaugurate the flyover and open it for traffic.
He directed provincial ministers Nasir Hussain Shah, Jam Khan Shoro and Haji Ali Hassan Zardari to coordinate closely with the relevant departments and ensure that the project is completed within the given timeline.
During the briefing, the chief minister was informed that the land acquisition process for the project had been completed in 2018. However, construction work could not move forward smoothly due to litigation and other administrative and technical issues, which caused prolonged delays in completion.
Officials told the meeting that the flyover was originally part of a federally funded road scheme designed to connect Hyderabad Bypass with Ghangra Mori on the left bank of Akram Wah. The project was planned to improve traffic flow, strengthen urban connectivity and provide relief to commuters facing congestion in Hyderabad.
The meeting was further informed that major civil work on the project had already been completed, including the casting of 24 bridge girders. Despite this progress, the flyover has remained unfinished due to unresolved technical, financial and administrative matters.
Expressing concern over the delay, Murad Ali Shah directed the departments concerned to immediately resume the remaining work and remove all hurdles affecting the project. He said the government wants the flyover completed without further excuses so that citizens can benefit from improved traffic movement and better road connectivity.
The chief minister said the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Flyover is an important infrastructure project for Hyderabad and will play a key role in reducing traffic pressure in the city once opened for public use.

Hyderabad | ReNews Pakistan
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved the allocation of 22 acres of land for the construction of a 6 million gallons per day (MGD) water filtration plant in the Misri Shaikh area, in a significant move aimed at improving the supply of safe drinking water in Hyderabad.
According to a press statement issued by the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, the approval was granted during a meeting chaired by the chief minister. The proposal for the project was submitted by Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro as part of broader efforts to tackle the city’s ongoing water challenges.
Officials stated that the new filtration plant forms a key component of the mayor’s vision to enhance water availability and ensure the provision of clean, filtered water to residents. The initiative is expected to ease pressure on existing infrastructure and improve public health outcomes.
The statement further highlighted that progress is already underway on several other water projects across the city. A 6 MGD filtration plant has been completed in Hussainabad, while work continues on additional facilities, including a 10 MGD plant in Ghangramori, and 6 MGD plants in Khanpota and Latifabad Unit No. 4.
Authorities expressed optimism that these combined efforts, supported by the provincial government and implemented through the Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation, will significantly improve the overall water supply situation in Hyderabad in the coming months.

Hyderabad | ReNews Pakistan
The re-lining of Akram Wah, a left bank perennial canal of Kotri Barrage, has been finalized as a long-term solution to address persistent water shortages in agricultural lands within its command area, particularly in tail-end regions.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce freshwater losses caused by seepage and enable the canal to carry its designed discharge capacity—something it has not achieved since its construction in the 1950s.
The project is being implemented under the World Bank-funded Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) programme, with an overall cost of $320 million. The programme comprises separate components for agriculture and water sector reforms.
According to officials, the procurement process for the project will commence next month, while physical re-lining work will begin after the conclusion of the upcoming kharif season. Authorities explained that construction activities cannot be undertaken during this period due to increased water demand for summer crops.
The decision to reline the canal was taken following a detailed assessment by Project Implementation Consultants (PICs), including National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) and Associated Consulting Engineers (ACE). The consultants reviewed an earlier feasibility report prepared under the Water Sector Improvement Project (WSIP), executed by the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA).
Based on their findings, the consultants recommended maintaining re-lining work from RD-0 to RD-193 to effectively control seepage losses and conserve freshwater.
Project Director of the SWAT water component, Jamal Mangan, stated that the rehabilitation cost of Akram Wah has reached approximately Rs21 billion. Experts believe that upon completion, the project will improve water efficiency, enhance agricultural productivity, and ensure equitable water distribution, especially benefiting farmers in tail-end areas.
Local farming communities have welcomed the initiative, expressing optimism that timely execution will strengthen irrigation infrastructure and support sustainable agricultural growth in the region.