KARACHI: Megacity Karachi is facing acute joblessness and to mitigate it, the government should construct the proposed Karachi-Hyderabad and Karachi-Keti Bander industrial corridors on priority, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor here Sunday.

He emphasized that industrial corridors are crucial drivers of economic development and infrastructure growth. These corridors stimulate large-scale industrial development by providing planned infrastructure, attracting domestic and foreign investment, and boosting GDP and employment. They foster cluster-based development where industries benefit from proximity to each other.

Altaf Shakoor highlighted that these corridors involve world-class roads, railways, ports, and power supply, which improve connectivity and lead to the development of smart cities, logistics hubs, and industrial parks. They assist in decongesting major cities by promoting growth in lesser-developed regions.

He further noted that new industries and infrastructure projects create millions of direct and indirect jobs and support skill development through training centers and vocational institutions. They also encourage urbanization in a planned manner, preventing chaotic city expansion.

Shakoor remarked that industrial corridors are PPP-friendly (Public-Private Partnership), promoting efficiency and innovation. They establish policy frameworks and single-window clearances that simplify business operations.

He urged the government to examine various models of industrial corridors, particularly the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

According to Shakoor, Karachi is suitable for industrial corridors due to its port access, existing industrial base, availability of skilled labor, suppliers, and service providers. It is already linked to national highways (N-5, Super Highway/M9) and railway lines.

He explained that the proposed Karachi-Hyderabad Industrial Corridor would connect existing industrial areas and develop new ones along the Super Highway (M-9).

He also detailed that the proposed Karachi-Keti Bandar corridor will link Thar’s coal resources to a new seaport at Keti Bandar, along with rail, power, and industrial infrastructure. This project has been under active consideration under CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) frameworks since 2016, but now it is time to implement it. This corridor would significantly complement Karachi’s industrial ecosystem. The project has past feasibility but now needs serious execution commitment, sustainable environmental planning, and private-public coordination to move from paper to reality.

Altaf Shakoor called on the federal and Sindh governments to undertake necessary actions for the early implementation of both industrial corridors to spur the economy of Karachi and the whole of Pakistan.