The federal government has released Rs20 billion to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) under the Karachi-Hyderabad development package, with Rs15 billion earmarked for Karachi and Rs5 billion for Hyderabad. Officials say the funds will be directed towards major urban development projects.
According to sources, MQM lawmakers from Karachi and Hyderabad submitted their development schemes to the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL). The company has already completed scrutiny of the projects, which have been cleared by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP). Final approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is expected soon, after which the tendering process will begin.
PIDCL sources confirmed that the funds have been transferred into the relevant accounts. They noted that the projects include construction of flyovers, improvement of water and sewerage systems, road building and repairs, and other schemes of public interest.
In addition, the government has released Rs3 billion for PML-N lawmakers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while another Rs3 billion has been provided separately under the SAP program. This brings the total allocation to Rs26 billion.
Officials also revealed that under the SAP program, MQM members of the National Assembly had earlier received Rs250 million each for development work in Karachi. Out of nearly 400 schemes submitted, around 100 have already been tendered and contractors have been issued work orders.
With these new funds, observers expect that large-scale development work will soon be visible in Karachi and Hyderabad. It is worth noting that such projects were previously handled by the Public Works Department (PWD) under the Ministry of Housing, but following its dissolution, the responsibility has now been shifted to the newly formed PIDCL.
