Chief Secretary Sindh calls emergency meeting on Karachi’s issues after city visit

KARACHI: Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah, conducted an extensive visit to various districts of Karachi today to inspect ongoing development projects, traffic conditions, water supply issues, and sanitation efforts. During his visit, he expressed dissatisfaction over delays in major projects and mismanagement in civic affairs, leading him to convene an emergency meeting to address the city’s pressing issues.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Local Government, Commissioner Karachi, Secretary Transport, all Deputy Commissioners, Director General SBCA, MD Solid Waste Management, Director General MDA, Director General KDA, Water Board officials, and other concerned authorities. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary voiced his concerns over the delay in the BRT Red Line project, stating that the prolonged work has caused significant distress to the public. The Secretary Transport informed that the project is expected to be completed by June 2026, with ongoing challenges related to utility shifting and Civil Aviation’s Right of Way NOC. The Chief Secretary directed the relevant authorities to accelerate the work and resolve the pending issues immediately.

While reviewing the city’s infrastructure, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah expressed strong displeasure over unnecessary road digging, instructing the Commissioner Karachi to strictly prohibit road cutting and move a summary for imposing Section 144. He emphasized that any necessary excavation should be immediately followed by proper road restoration. Addressing traffic congestion, he pointed out the increasing problem of illegal parking of rickshaws, trucks, and trailers under city bridges and ordered immediate action to remove them. He also directed all Assistant Commissioners to take strict measures against encroachments, particularly makeshift stalls obstructing traffic flow. Furthermore, he instructed that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) of weekly markets causing traffic issues should be canceled immediately.

The Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah also stressed the need for beautification and rehabilitation of major roads, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Orangi Road, Shaheed Millat Road, and Marine Promenade Road. He ordered the improvement of sidewalks, installation of solar streetlights, and enhancement of walls along these roads to uplift the city’s aesthetics. He further directed the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board to launch a special cleanliness campaign, ensuring that garbage collection and disposal are carried out efficiently across Karachi. Additionally, he instructed KMC to organize plantation drives and improve lighting under the city’s bridges to enhance their appearance and safety.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary took strict action against negligence, ordering the immediate suspension of TMC Mominabad officials who had allowed a vegetable market to operate on public roads. Deputy Director Encroachment TMC Mominabad Naeem Khan, Inspector Encroachment Tahir, and Deputy Director Solid Waste Management Nauman Waheed were suspended for failing to take action against unauthorized setups.

In a decisive move towards environmental sustainability, Chief Secretary Sindh also announced a complete ban on plastic shopping bags, instructing the Secretary of Environment to prepare a summary for the provincial cabinet. He assured that strict enforcement would be ensured to implement this ban effectively. He emphasized that visible improvements must be made in Karachi, stating, “People should see and feel the progress happening in their city.”