Sharjeel Memon briefs Bilawal on progress of Sindh transport projects

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon met Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at Bilawal House and briefed him on the progress of major public transport projects in the province, according to a statement issued on Tuesday. Memon briefed Bilawal on the implementation of ongoing transport mega projects and initiatives aimed at improving public transport facilities for the people of Sindh, the statement said. The meeting came days after Memon said University Road in Karachi was nearing completion and would be completed within two months. “Now we can say University Road has been built,” Memon said while inaugurating the Mosamiyat Flyover, a key component of the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, on Sunday. He said work on University Road had reached its final stages and that difficulties faced by commuters had largely been overcome. On the Red Line project, Memon said the Mosamiyat Flyover was an important part of the corridor and would soon be opened to the public after the completion of necessary formalities. Work on stations and other components of the BRT project was also progressing, he added. He acknowledged delays in the project and apologised to Karachi residents, saying several issues had contributed to the delays. Despite increases in the cost of the dollar, cement and petrol, he said, work had continued. Read: BRT Red Line picks up steam The Sindh government had allocated more than Rs100 billion for Karachi in its 2026-27 budget for transport, water supply, drainage, sanitation and urban infrastructure projects. The province had 816 ongoing development schemes in the city with a combined cost of Rs644.3 billion, according to figures presented with the budget. The allocation included Rs13.2 billion for the Red Line BRT and more than Rs3.5 billion for the Yellow Line corridor. The government had also announced plans to introduce 25 double-decker buses and add 100 electric buses to Karachi’s public transport network. In June, the Sindh cabinet approved Rs11.198 billion for 11 infrastructure projects in Karachi under its mega projects programme. The projects included the rehabilitation of major roads and the construction of a bridge at Power House Chowrangi and a flyover at K-4 Chowrangi. The cabinet had also approved additional funding of Rs8.825 billion for water supply and sanitation schemes across the province. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said at the time that timely completion of development projects and transparent use of public funds remained a priority, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s House.