Karachi: Expressing concern over the slow progress of infrastructure projects, Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Altaf Shakoor criticized the sluggish pace of development in Karachi, stating that the city's growth is hindered by continuous delays and inefficiencies.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, Shakoor highlighted that projects, from University Road to the K-IV water supply scheme, are consistently missing deadlines. Despite impressive budgets and numerous groundbreaking ceremonies, the reality for Karachi's residents includes congested roads, water shortages, and deteriorating infrastructure. Shakoor emphasized that the issue lies in the slow conversion of funds and plans into tangible progress.

The Sindh government has approved a substantial Rs 95 billion development package, allocating Rs 84.796 billion for 523 schemes and Rs 19.1 billion for road networks and ongoing projects worth over Rs 644 billion. However, Shakoor pointed out that the University Road project is now delayed until the end of 2026, and the Dumlottee-DHA pipeline and K-IV augmentation are progressing slowly, exacerbating the city's water crisis.

Citing the Bhains Colony Flyover, completed in just five months, as a model of what can be achieved with proper coordination, Shakoor urged for this approach to become the norm. He warned that delays lead to time lost in traffic, water shortages, business relocations, and diminished public trust.

Shakoor called for hard deadlines with accountability, pre-planned utility shifting, and decentralized execution empowering local bodies like KMC and DMCs to address urgent infrastructure needs. He also advocated for transparent, real-time monitoring of project progress to ensure that Karachi can maintain its role as Pakistan's economic engine without further delays.