Karachi Development: No Mega Projects in 3 Years
- Karachi will see continued investment in its infrastructure, but the Sindh government's budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year does not include any new "mega development schemes" for the...
- Budget documents reveal that while no new schemes are listed under "Mega Schemes for Karachi City" in the Annual Development Program, Rs8.288 billion has been allocated for nine...
- The largest allocation, Rs1.89 billion, is earmarked for the construction of a junction at Shahrah-i-Bhutto and Korangi Causeway Bridge near Qayyumabad.Other significant allocations include Rs1.5 billion for a...
Karachi‘s infrastructure will see continued investment, but the 2025-26 budget omits new mega progress schemes for the third year running. Despite the absence of new mega projects, the Sindh goverment allocates Rs8.288 billion for nine ongoing infrastructure projects, a meaningful increase from last year. Key projects include the Shahrah-i-Bhutto junction,Malir River bridge,and Korangi Causeway bridge. The budget also reveals a focus on electric buses, with 500 planned for Karachi. While funds are allocated, major initiatives like the KCR and K-IV remain unmentioned in the budget speech. Discover what’s next on News Directory 3, as the city anticipates progress and new developments.
Karachi Infrastructure Projects Get Budget Boost, New Schemes Absent
Updated June 15, 2025
Karachi will see continued investment in its infrastructure, but the Sindh government’s budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year does not include any new “mega development schemes” for the city. This marks the third consecutive year without such announcements, despite ongoing infrastructure work.
Budget documents reveal that while no new schemes are listed under “Mega Schemes for Karachi City” in the Annual Development Program, Rs8.288 billion has been allocated for nine ongoing projects. This is a meaningful increase from the previous budget’s Rs1.389 billion for 11 projects.
The largest allocation, Rs1.89 billion, is earmarked for the construction of a junction at Shahrah-i-Bhutto and Korangi Causeway Bridge near Qayyumabad.Other significant allocations include Rs1.5 billion for a bridge on the Malir River at N-5 (Murghikhana) and Rs1.3 billion for the Korangi Causeway Bridge construction.
Remaining projects include rehabilitation of Nehr-i-Khayam (Rs922.05 million), construction of a storm-water drain from M-9 to Thaddo Nalla via Mehran Drain (Rs847.6 million), a sports complex at the bakhtiari Youth Center (Rs666.08 million),rehabilitation of the Manzoor Colony drain (Rs508.9 million), road rehabilitation in Sachal Goth (Rs450.65 million), and construction of Allama Iqbal Park at Federal B Area (Rs158.68 million).
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who also holds the finance portfolio, did not mention the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Greater Karachi water Supply Scheme (K-IV), or Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (S-III) in his budget speech. Though, budget documents show Rs450 million allocated for S-III and Rs100 million for K-IV (Phase-I, 260 MGD).
The chief minister highlighted special initiatives for the 2025-26 fiscal year,including Rs12 billion for Karachi Urban infrastructure Development,though specific project details remain undisclosed. He also mentioned a five million gallons per day desalination plant project, slated for investor solicitation in 2025, to address Karachi’s water shortage.
The government plans to introduce 500 electric buses exclusively for Karachi as part of a phased implementation plan to bring 1,000 electric buses to the province. The first 100 new 12-meter electric buses,acquired through a rent-to-own model,are expected to be operational by July.
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network is progressing, with the Yellow Line nearing completion and 50% of the red Line finished.
In the outgoing fiscal year, the Sindh government provided Rs148 billion to local councils, including Rs26 billion to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), to cover operational expenditures and development needs.
what’s next
Karachi residents can anticipate continued progress on existing infrastructure projects and the arrival of new electric buses, while awaiting further details on urban development initiatives and the desalination plant project.