Mayor presses officials to meet development projects timeline

2026-03-07 - 21:03

ZUBAIR YAQOOB Barrister Murtaza Wahab, the mayor Karachi, has directed officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to establish clear completion timelines for all ongoing and upcoming development projects in the city, emphasizing the need for faster execution to deliver relief to residents. The directive was issued during a high-level meeting held at the KMC head office to review the progress of development schemes being implemented across the city. Senior officials, engineers and administrators attended the meeting, where the pace, funding and implementation of several infrastructure projects were discussed in detail. Ibrar Jaffar, the municipal commissioner, presented a comprehensive briefing to the mayor on the physical and financial progress of projects currently underway. These include schemes being carried out under multiple programs such as the CLICK initiative, Grant-in-Aid projects, the Provincial Annual Development Program and the District Annual Development Program. Speaking during the meeting, Wahab said development activities have gained visible momentum across Karachi and that residents are beginning to experience improvements in infrastructure and civic services. However, he noted that the overall pace of work remains below expectations and must be accelerated to meet the needs of the city’s growing population. “Development schemes are not merely about issuing tenders or allocating funds,” Wahab said. “They represent our commitment to providing better services and improved facilities for the people of Karachi.” The mayor instructed all chief engineers and relevant departments to expedite work on ongoing schemes and ensure that projects are completed on a fast-track basis. He also directed officials to submit completion reports for all development schemes by May 30, signaling the administration’s intent to closely monitor progress. According to the briefing presented during the meeting, more than 100 development schemes are currently being implemented in different parts of Karachi. In addition, 139 new road construction and rehabilitation projects are in the pipeline. Wahab said completing ongoing projects quickly is essential to ensure that new initiatives can begin without delay. He stressed that timely execution would help reduce disruptions for residents while enabling the city administration to expand development activities. The mayor also addressed concerns regarding funding, stating that the city currently faces no shortage of financial resources for infrastructure work. He said the provincial government continues to support Karachi’s development agenda and that funds collected through the Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes system are being used specifically for infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement. These resources, he added, are being directed toward road construction, drainage improvements and other essential civic upgrades designed to address long-standing infrastructure challenges in the metropolis. During the meeting, Gulzar Abro, the financial adviser of KMC, briefed participants on the allocation and release of funds for various projects. He informed the mayor that additional disbursements are expected in the coming days and assured that funds will be released without administrative delays. Wahab reiterated the city administration’s commitment to advancing Karachi’s development agenda in line with the vision of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the broader policy priorities of the Pakistan Peoples Party. The meeting was attended by senior officials including engineers, technical advisers and departmental heads of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, who were instructed to closely coordinate their efforts to ensure projects are completed within the newly established timelines.