SUKKUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday visited the site of Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge to review progress of work on the Kandhkot side, which has long been stopped due to security issues.

The CM took appropriate measures to beef up security in the area and gave the works & services department three months to complete the work. Speaking to the officials concerned and media personnel, the chief minister said that police and Rangers would provide necessary security to ensure completion of the entire project by next year.

The bridge over the Indus is meant for providing a direct road link between Kandhkot and Ghotki and reduce travel distance by approximately 120 kilometres.

Mr Shah highlighted that importance of Ghotki saying that it was becoming an emerging industrial hub. Kandhkot is even more important as it is located along the proposed CPEC route, according to the CM.

Project has hit long delay due to law & order situation

“Both regions are home to some of the country’s largest oil and gas fields, power projects and fertilizer plants. The new bridge will help boost economic activity and regional trade,” he said, and emphasised the need for completion of the project as soon as possible.

Forces have been deployed in the region to ensure safety and security of officials, private contractors and their staff, workers and labourers. Forty Rangers personnel have been stationed at the site while two pickets have been set up and three patrol vehicles have been made available on a rotation basis.

Additionally, 50 policemen have been deployed at four pickets along the project route, and the force is equipped with a vehicle and an armoured personnel carrier (APC).

The chief minister ordered completion of work for three barracks. Work on one barrack is nearly finished and also partially occupied by security personnel.

He also directed completion of 21 police pickets, six of which have been completed and handed over to the district police. However, the pickets (Nos. 7 and 8) could not be built as their sites fall along the course of the Kariro Pattan, an offshoot of the Indus River. The CM instructed the police department to identify alternative locations for these pickets.

During the visit, the CM was informed that although the riverbed land was officially classified as state-owned, local residents had encroached upon it and were not ready to vacate the corridor, causing delays in the construction of the bridge.

The CM directed the revenue and police departments to retrieve the land and ensure resumption of work.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2025