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Saturday, March 16, 2024

PTI govt to build 6 lane bridge over Karachi waters

The six-lane bridge will connect the East and West Wharves along the Native Jetty bridge. Moreover, it will cost Rs 2.3 billion and is expected to be completed within 18 months. Reacting to the news Minister Fawad Chaudhry commended Minister Ali Zaidi for the work.

In a bid to reduce traffic congestion, the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) is currently working on a six-lane bridge. The Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi revealed the news on Twitter.

As per the details shared by the Minister, KPT finalized the contract for the bridge after two and a half years of planning and tendering. The six-lane bridge will connect the East and West Wharves along the Native Jetty bridge. Moreover, it will cost Rs 2.3 billion and is expected to be completed within 18 months.

Through the six-lane bridge, KPT hopes to reduce the traffic congestion caused by the movement of cargo.

Read more: Indian port refuses to handle cargo from Pakistan, Afghanistan & Iran

“A big challenge for @official_kpt has been the movement of cargo & traffic congestions caused by it. After 2 1/2 yrs of planning/tendering etc, KPT is contracting a 6 lane bridge connecting East & West Wharfs along Native Jetty costing Rs.2.3B. Completion in 18 months,” the Minister wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry commended Minister Ali Zaidi. Additionally, Twitteratis also appreciated Minister Zaidi for the work. To clarify, KPT is a federally administered public sector organization that oversees the operations of Karachi Port.

It operates as a Trust working under a Board of Trustees separate from the Federal Government. However, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs is still responsible for it.

“Well done Minister Sahab Ali Zaidi,” Fawad Chaudhry tweeted.

Consequently, KPT said the elevated port expressway will connect the under-construction Pakistan Deep Water Container Port (PDWCP) with the Lyari Expressway while passing over the Mauripur Road. As a result, the expressway will facilitate the coal yard, PDWCP, and KPT’s East and West Wharves.

Read more: Karachi coastal zone: Pakistan’s golden steps into blue-economy

KPT succeeding under PTI leadership?

Most importantly, KPT showed remarkable success under the PTI government’s leadership. Back in June, Minister Zaidi announced that KPT grew substantially over the past months.

According to the figures shared by the minister in his tweet, during the 11 Month Fiscal Year from July to May 2021, the cargo on the ports increased 25.71 percent in 11MFY21 compared to the same period in the last fiscal year.

Similarly, the port saw a 13.6 percent growth in container handling YoY and a 21.3 percent increase in ship movement, in the 11-month period from July 2020 to May 2021.