KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday officially inaugurated the 39-kilometre Shahrah-e-Bhutto Expressway, marking a major infrastructure development for Karachi. He also laid the foundation stone for the project’s extension linking Qayyumabad with Karachi Port.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Kathore Interchange near the M-9 Motorway, where Bilawal was joined by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. Before formally opening the road to traffic, Bilawal personally drove along the expressway and paid the toll fee himself.
The newly completed six-lane controlled-access highway stretches from Jam Sadiq Bridge to Kathore Bridge and allows vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour. Built at a cost of Rs54.814 billion, the project features six interchanges, two toll plazas, five weigh stations, and an underpass.
Speaking at the event, Bilawal described the expressway as a symbol of the PPP government’s commitment to improving Karachi’s infrastructure and transportation system. He emphasized that modern roads and efficient connectivity are essential for the city’s economic future.
He said the expressway would help reduce travel time between central Karachi and the M-9 Motorway while easing traffic congestion across the city. According to him, the corridor would also boost trade, attract investment, support industries, and create employment opportunities.
Bilawal further highlighted the importance of the planned extension from Qayyumabad to Karachi Port, saying it would improve links between industrial areas, port operations, and the national highway network.
Calling Karachi Port the backbone of Pakistan’s trade economy, he said the new route would provide faster and more efficient movement for cargo transport as well as daily commuters.
