Motorway Project
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has addressed a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, highlighting alleged injustices by the federal government concerning motorway projects.
In his letter, Shah expressed grave concerns over the National Highway Authority’s (NHA) allocation of projects, which he deemed highly inequitable.
According to the chief minister, the NHA has assigned only six projects to Sindh, compared to Punjab’s allocation of 33. Shah accused the NHA of exhibiting blatant bias, stating that the authority had “crossed all limits of injustice” toward Sindh.
The disparity extends beyond project numbers, with the federal government proposing Rs708 billion worth of motorway projects for Punjab, while Sindh has been allotted a mere Rs62 billion.
Of this, just Rs7 billion has been allocated for 78 projects in the PPP-led province, a stark contrast that underscores the uneven distribution of resources.
The Karachi-Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway project has become a focal point of contention between the Sindh government and federal authorities.
Shah criticized the coalition government for allocating 38% of the NHA’s budget to Punjab, while Sindh’s share stands at a negligible 4%. He argued that such actions reflect a systematic disregard for Sindh’s development needs.
This is not the first instance where the Sindh chief minister has raised concerns about federal neglect. The province has repeatedly called on the central government to address other pressing issues, including Sindh’s ongoing water crisis.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also voiced his discontent during the inauguration of the Malir Expressway in Karachi, accusing the federal government of treating Sindh unfairly and depriving it of its rightful resources.
He likened the federal attitude to “step-motherly treatment” and criticized the central government for failing to ensure equitable distribution.
In response to these challenges, Sindh has turned to public-private partnerships to execute essential infrastructure projects. The construction of highways under this model exemplifies the province’s efforts to bridge the development gap amidst federal neglect.
