ADB reviews BRT, urban transport, climate projects in Sindh 2025

CM Murad informs delegation that all obstacles in the project have been removed, work would now accelerate

The Sindh High Court is hearing a petition regarding the awarding of the contract for the construction of University Road to an unqualified private contractor. PHOTO: FILE

Development projects underway in Sindh with Asian Development Bank support were reviewed by ADB and the Sindh government, including the BRT Red Line, urban transport schemes, infrastructure initiatives and climate resilience projects.

ADB Country Director Emma Fan met with the chief minister at the Chief Minister’s House, accompanied by her delegation. Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon briefed the delegation on the resolution of issues affecting the Red Line project.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said ADB-supported projects were encouraging for the people of Sindh, describing the bank as a long-standing and trusted development partner of the provincial government. He reaffirmed that the Sindh government would continue sustainable initiatives in transport, water supply, climate protection and infrastructure, and stressed that the timely completion of projects remained the government’s top priority.

He assured the ADB delegation that all obstacles in the Red Line project had been removed and work would now accelerate.

The foundation stone for phase one and phase two of the BRT project, which includes procurement of buses and civil works, was laid in August 2022 and was expected to be completed by 2024. However, this completion timeline has now been extended to 2026.

The construction of the BRT line has been mired in controversy and criticism, as it has resulted in the closure of one of Karachi’s main arteries, University Road. The closure has severely affected traffic from Gulshan-e-Iqbal towards Saddar. Vehicles are being diverted to Shahrah-e-Faisal, Rashid Minhas Road via Aladdin Park, and Liaquatabad Road, causing heavy congestion. Similarly, traffic from Shahrah-e-Faisal towards Central District and Gulshan-e-Iqbal is now using Stadium Road, resulting in frequent jams.

BRT Rede Line is a multi-million dollar project, with a price tag of 503.3 million dollars, out of which the Asian Development Bank will provide 235 million dollars, the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank will provide 71.81 million dollars, the French Development Agency 71.81 million dollars, while the Green Climate Fund a 11.8 million dollar grant and 37.2 million dollars in loans; whereas, the Sindh government will cover the remainder 75.71 million dollars.

Read: Karachi commuters face gridlock as University Road shut until year-end

The project involves 96-inch and 72-inch pipelines along the Red Line corridor, supplying an additional 260 million gallons of water per day to Karachi and connecting the main K-IV filtration plants to the city’s existing network. Work is carried out in phases along both tracks of University Road.

Residents have long endured overflowing drains, dust, and narrowed lanes along University Road, forcing commuters and students to navigate traffic and sewage to reach their destinations.

Opposition parties have criticised the Sindh government. Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, Monem Zafar Khan called the city “a maze of broken roads and failed projects,” while PTI leaders accused authorities of corruption and mismanagement.

Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon briefed the delegation on the resolution of issues affecting the Red Line project.

Emma Fan has said that ADB would continue its partnership on urban transport and development schemes. She also confirmed that ADB would provide additional funding to ensure the timely completion of ongoing projects. The meeting has agreed to strengthen safety measures for the BRT line.

Progress on Karachi’s TP-4 sewage treatment plant was reviewed. Murad Ali Shah termed TP-4 a key project for Karachi and urged ADB to expand its support. The World Bank and ADB are working jointly with the Sindh government on the scheme.

According to the update released by Abdul Rasheed Channa, Media Consultant to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat:

The Coastal Development Project is in the final stages of approval and is expected to be cleared soon.
Six additional Sindh projects worth USD 75 million are also progressing through the approval process.

Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon briefed the delegation on the resolution of issues affecting the Red Line project.

Provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, P&D Chairman Najam Shah, Principal Secretary to the CM Raheem Shaikh, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin and other officials attended the meeting. The ADB team included Deputy Country Director Asad Aleem, Programme Officer Khayyam Suhail Abbasi, and Project Officers Hamid Khan and Adnan Ali.