ISLAMABAD: Development projects worth billions of rupees in Sindh, funded by the federal government, have come to a standstill following the closure of the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak-PWD), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.
MQM chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui led a party delegation to the Prime Minister’s House, reporting that nearly all federally funded infrastructure projects in Sindh, including Rs15 billion worth for Karachi and Rs5 billion for Hyderabad, have been halted due to Pak-PWD’s shutdown.
The meeting coincided with a protest by PWD employees in Islamabad, who fear job losses due to the department’s closure. The government is downsizing state departments to cut non-development expenditures and plans to reassign some PWD employees or offer them golden handshakes.
MQM leader Syed Aminul Haque, part of the delegation, explained that development work under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) has stalled. He urged the prime minister to address the issue, noting that the closure has affected Rs20 billion worth of projects in Karachi and Hyderabad.
The delegation suggested using the Sindh Infrastructure Development Corporation (SIDC) as an alternative to continue the projects. Established in 2016, SIDC has previously managed significant projects such as the Green Line Bus Project in Karachi.
In addition to discussing the development projects, the MQM delegation requested the prime minister consider reducing electricity bills for ordinary citizens, even if it means shutting down government-owned independent power producers (IPPs).
The Prime Minister’s Office noted that the MQM delegation appreciated the premier’s economic policies, which have reduced inflation and praised the government’s business-friendly measures. PM Shehbaz assured the delegation that addressing Karachi’s issues remains a government priority and that national development initiatives are progressing with coalition partners.
