Technical experts have opposed the creation of a new sustainable megacity in the province, keeping in view the structure and the nature of the economy of Sindh.
For many years, the Sindh government has been planning to build a new city spread over a million acres by the name of Zulfikarabad in Thatta district. The proposed location of the city –named after late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – is near Jhirak in Thatta.
On Thursday, in a meeting held at the Sindh Chief Minister’s House regarding the provision of amenities and construction of roads in the province, former adviser Kaisar Bengali said that a system of cities needed to be created around the growth node, as it is not possible to create another megacity, keeping in view the structure and nature of the economy of Sindh.
In his detailed presentation on Development of Regional Hubs and Highways Connectivity, he suggested identifying three growth nodes (regional hubs), which are Northern Sindh (Sukkur), Central Sindh (Nawabshah and Dadu) and Southern Sindh (Hyderabad).
“The cities and towns surrounding these growth nodes (radius of 75 km) are treated as part of regional hubs,” Bengali said, adding that high-speed road connectivity from these cities and towns to the regional hubs is the key to development.
The economics expert also proposed eight highways from Ghotki-Kandhkot-Thul-Jacobabad-Ratodero-Larkana-Khairpur (200 kms); Khairpur-Kotdiji-Kot Lalu-Nawabshah (155 kms); Dadu-Moro-Jamal Shah-Kazi Ahmed-Nawabshah-Sanghar-Mirpurkhas-Badin (325 kms); Sakrand-Nawabshah (60 kms); Shahpur Chakar-Shahdadpur-Tando Adam-Tando Allahyar (85 kms); Hyderabad-Tando Muhammad Khan-Badin (100 kms); Hyderabad-Tando Allahyar-Mirpurkhas (60 kms); and Karachi-Thatta-Badin-Mithi-Islamkot (300 kms).
Bengali said that traffic on many roads is not heavy due to poor conditions of roads, failing to provide necessary connectivity between different parts of the province, particularly with Karachi.
“The development of roads cannot await the growth of traffic, while improved connectivity will open up access for agricultural produce to markets and assure better prices to farmers,” he said. “Besides, the connectivity between cities, particularly with Karachi, will enable industrial growth in cities other than Karachi.”
The former adviser was of the view that the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas dual-carriageway will reduce the commuting time to about half an hour – a reflection of the vision shown by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had the courage to break out from the conventional mould and create a new path for the country.
Bengali said that the Sindh province spends billions of rupees every year for an endless cycle of repair and rehabilitation of roads in Sindh, and spent over Rs 104 billion (in 2011-12 prices) over the last 10 years on maintenance of roads, for which no feasibilities were carried out.
“The roads in Sindh are in a sad state,” he said, suggesting that about Rs 100 billion be spent in next 10 years on high quality roads through Public-Private Partnership model.
“Sindh’s budget for repair and rehabilitation of roads will be reduced to a fraction over the next 30 years,” he added.
Endorsing the proposed master plan, Sindh finance minister and secretary, Sindh chief secretary, Planning and Development additional chief secretary and Works and Services secretary also expressed their views.
Presiding over the meeting, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that roads play an important role in the communications system, development process and promotion of economic activities. “The present government has chalked out a plan to not only improve the existing road network of the province but also more roads under the Sindh Road Network Master Plan,” he added.
He said the government will encourage the provincial department to prepare, construct and finalise road schemes under the approved policy with required standards and quality, while intending investors will be invited to participate in development schemes.
“The Sindh government, after heavy rains has initiated rehabilitation of damaged roads to provide basic infrastructure facility to common men,” Shah said.
At the meeting, it was informed that 580 schemes worth Rs 85 billion are under implementation at present and the cost per one kilometre road is Rs 700,000.
Accepting the concept, the chief minister decided to form a nine-member board to develop the concept with concrete proposals within two to three weeks.
