Sindh Chief Minister’s Special Assistant and Pakistan Peoples Party’s General Secretary, Senator Waqar Mehdi, has raised serious concerns regarding the federal government’s failure to release necessary funds for key mega development projects in Sindh, leading to significant delays in their completion. He expressed that withholding fund for crucial projects in the province, which contributes the most revenue to the country, is a gross injustice.
In a statement, Senator Waqar Mehdi emphasized that the federal government must treat all provinces equally and provide opportunities and cooperation without discrimination to ensure fair distribution of national resources. He particularly highlighted the importance of the K-4 water project for Karachi’s 25 million residents, which is slated for completion by 2026.
He criticized the federal government for allocating only Rs 15 billion for the Rs 130 billion project last fiscal year and continuing the same approach in the current fiscal year, calling it a mockery of the people of Sindh and Karachi. This lack of funding puts the timely completion of the project at risk. Senator Mehdi pointed out that the Jamshoro-Sehwan dual carriageway project, which is also suffering from federal neglect, holds great significance. The provincial government has already allocated its share of funds for this road, which is plagued by frequent accidents, resulting in the loss of precious lives. The project is expected to alleviate traffic congestion on the Hyderabad-Sukkur highway, but the federal government has shown no interest in its completion.
He also expressed regret over the delay in the implementation of 49 billion rupees worth of projects included in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and urged immediate action to complete these initiatives. Senator Mehdi praised the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives for holding a meeting in Karachi to assess the progress of federal projects in Sindh, particularly the issue of fund disbursement.
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