Karachi: In a notable move towards environmental sustainability, the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has donated 5,000 trees for plantation along the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway. The ceremonial event, attended by Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi, spotlighted broader urban development efforts in the city.
Mayor Wahab underscored Karachi’s fiscal commitments to industrial areas, revealing plans to include specific allocations in the upcoming budget. He disclosed a request for Rs. 7 billion from the Prime Minister for the expressway’s infrastructure development, with the second phase slated for completion by April 30 and the third by December 2025.
Infrastructure enhancements were a focal point, with updates on the Jam Sadiq flyover set to finish by August 14, 2025, and the Korangi Crossing Bridge expected to open by August 30. Wahab also addressed plans to make the expressway signal-free, aiming to ease traffic congestion. On water projects, he confirmed an Rs. 80 billion investment, seeking federal support to expedite the K-4 initiative.
Commissioner Naqvi lauded KATI’s plantation initiative as a step towards sustainable urban infrastructure. He announced a detailed PC-1 for the Korangi Industrial Zone uplift, with construction anticipated by mid-year.
KATI President Junaid Naqi expressed gratitude to city officials and emphasized the public-private partnership model for maintaining the plantations. He highlighted the project’s significance in promoting green development within the metropolis.
Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya commended PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for fostering collaboration between the government and the business sector. He stressed the importance of addressing sewage issues and proposed forming a dedicated authority to tackle these challenges.
Chhaya also noted the impact of encroachments on traffic flow, advocating for the removal of illegal vendors and stressing the necessity of public cooperation to resolve these issues permanently.