KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced that the Ghotki–Kandhkot Road and Bridge Project, on which the halted work has been resumed, will be inaugurated in June 2027.
He took this decision while presiding over the 49th PPP Policy Board meeting in which he revised timelines of the project, construction progress, cost escalations, and security challenges.
The meeting, held at the CM House, was attended by the Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Works & Services Minister Ali Hassan Zardari, Special Assistant to CM for Investment Syed Qasim Naveed, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio, DR Sarosh Lodhi, and other members of the Board.
The Chief Minister was briefed on the project’s implementation history, cost, and the findings of the Technical Committee.
The Ghotki–Kandhkot Bridge Project initiated by the Works & Services Department, with the Concession Agreement signed in May 2018. The initial hydraulic design approved by the Indus River Commission (IRC) for three (3) kilometres bridge length, and construction began in August 2020.
Following the devastating 2022 floods, the IRC in its 187th meeting observed that bridges that were constructed bank-to-bank were resilient in structure and passed the flood water smoothly without any afflux, but the bridges that weren’t constructed bank-to-bank created problem and caused pressure on the flood protective embankments along upstream of the bridges and lag time was increased. Therefore, the IRC decided that all future bridges over River Indus must be constructed bank-to-bank. As a result, the Ghotki Kandhkot Bridge length was increased from 3 km to 12.2 km, requiring major revisions in scope, timeline, and cost. Amended concession and EPC agreements reflecting these changes were signed in 2023.
The project cost stands at Rs32 billion, while scheduled substantial completion is June 2029, however, the Government of Sindh shall ensure safe law & order situation at the Project site to the Concessionaire for early completion by June 2027. The Chief Minister was informed that construction has progressed steadily despite unprecedented challenges of adverse law & order situation in the katcha area at Project site. As of November 2025, Segments one and two are nearing completion, while Segments three and four are advancing with significant work already done on piling, shaft construction, and transom installation. Overall, the project has achieved 54 per cent progress in piling, 49 per cent in shafts, and 47 per cent in transoms. The financial close with the syndicate of leading commercial and Islamic banks will be achieved by first week of December 2025.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reaffirmed the strategic importance of the bridge, describing it as “a vital lifeline that will open new economic corridors for upper Sindh.” He instructed the Works & Services, Home, and Finance departments to ensure uninterrupted execution and warned against any further delays.
“I will personally inaugurate the Ghotki–Kandhkot Bridge in June 2027,” he said. “This project is not just infrastructure – it is a promise to the people of Sindh, and we will deliver.”
Health Sector PPP initiatives:
The PPP Policy Board reviewed several major projects of the Health Department taking important decisions to strengthen service delivery, introduce advanced medical technologies, and ensure continuity of critical healthcare services.
Plasma Fractionation Facility Project:
The Board held an extensive discussion on the proposed Plasma Fractionation Facility, that will be a flagship initiative of the Health Department through the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority (SBTA). The project aims to establish Pakistan’s first Plasma Fractionation Facility under a PPP modality for the local production of Plasma-Derived Medicinal Products (PDMPs), which are currently entirely imported.
The Board was informed that PDMPs – including Albumin, Immunoglobulins (IVIG/SCIG), and essential coagulation factors for Haemophilia A and B – are critical for treating cancers, marrow transplants, immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders, trauma, burns, and major surgeries. Despite growing demand, Pakistan lacks an indigenous PDMP manufacturing facility. Furthermore, the RBC Project of Health Department under PPP mode produces huge volume of Plasma will be supplied for Plasma Fractionation facility.
The Chief Minister noted that the recently notified National Blood Transfusion & Blood Products Policy 2025 – 30 has created a conducive environment for attracting credible international investors. Several global companies have already shown interest in establishing such a facility in Karachi.
After deliberation, the PPP Policy Board approved the Project Concept and Project Development Facility (PDF) funding for hiring transaction advisors to carry out feasibility studies and transaction advisory services.
The Chief Minister stressed that the project will reduce import dependency, save foreign exchange, enhance patient safety through local traceability systems, create jobs, and potentially enable export of PDMPs in the future.
