Managing Director Zulfikarabad Development Authority visits development work on Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway FWO to complete the construction of 44 km express way in 22 months briefing by FWO

Karachi, September 05, 2013 (PPI-OT): Managing Director Zulfikarabad Development Authority Lt. Gen. Retd. Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah visited the development works of Zulfikarabad City. Frontier Works Organization(FWO) briefed about the progress on the work and updated him about the schedule of various activities.

The expressway will provide fast speed link to the hub of the first node of the development in the Shah Bunder area. This 44 KM expressway will start from Garho – Keti Bunder Highway, crosses Indus River at Dhandhari and will terminate near Shah Bunder, where a huge development of Zulfikarabad City is planned. FWO officials have completed the mobilization of major resources and after completion of the survey of the alignment, started work on clearing and grubbing and dumping the material for the embankment.

MD ZDA emphasized on the quality control and proper implementation of the design to accommodate the local population by providing underpasses for the land connection on both sides of the Expressway.

FWO informed that the work has started in the mid of August 2013 and will be completed in Apr 2015. Managing Director ZDA Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah along with his technical team drove along the express way alignment and inspected the ongoing work.

Sector Commander FWO Lt Col M Sangrez and Lt Col Faisal jointly briefed MD ZDA and his team about various aspects and salient features of the expressway development and construction. In the briefing they elucidated on the appraisal of the technical, financial and social impacts of the development work carried out at the site of the express way.

They also explained that all the planning aspects are being followed to cause minimum damages to the landscape. Meanwhile, ZDA has planned to undertake the IEE of the project after it is approved from SEPA. The policy document has already been submitted to SEPA for review.

They also informed MD ZDA that FWO is also planning to start mobilization on the east side of the River Indus so that fast speed construction can take place and the benefits can be rendered to the new development during its planning and later development stage as early as possible by such planning initiatives.

The expressway will be connected through a bridge on River Indus near Dhandhari which will play great role in the improvement of the life of the locals and businesses of the area. MD ZDA and his technical team also visited Udasi Village where various options are being considered to follow the best suitable alignment by achieving optimum technical / engineering solution with minimum disturbances to the local inhabitants.

Umar Munshi Associates, who are the consultants for ZDA, presented the problem and its options which have been suggested after topographical survey of the alignment were complete. With this project completed, the two major regions on east and west of the river Indus will get an efficient high quality connection with Thatta and Karachi.

It was informed that the land acquisition and settlement issues have been resolved amicably by the Revenue Board by issuing the requisite declarations following the rules and regulations. Local administration has assured an access to the information by establishing an information center for any query regarding local revenue authorities.

On the occasion MD ZDA Lt. Gen. Retd. Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has directed various entities, working on the project to establish the project control centers at locations close to the project and shall undertake the work establishing excellent coordination with aggressive supervision. He also emphasized that to achieve the target/milestone of the construction an efficient control mechanism should be put in place.

Director Operation ZDA Eng.Shaukat Ali Alvi also requested FWO to review the construction drawings by deploying their in-house team and settle all technical and administrative issues before the construction takes place on the various components of the project.

The area of water crossings should be thoroughly investigated while preparing the site for construction. All technical support would be provided to FWO by ZDA at every level to complete the project in stipulated time remaining within budget. He also visited their Laboratory which has been established at campsite of FWO.

During the visit Hussain Bux Shaikh, Project Director, ZDA, Amir Ali Sangi, Deputy Director Operations, ZDA, Afraz Ahmed Memon, Atifur Reham Planning Section ZDA ,Mehdi Ali, Shahid Ali Soomro, Mr. Rashid Ali, Project Coordinator, UMA, Engr: Shehzad Asif ,Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Korejo, Assistant Commissioner, Thatta, Nizamuddin Thatyar, Assistant Estate Officer, ZDA and FWO staff and others were also accompanied.

For more information, contact:
Information and Archives Department
Directorate of Press Information
Government of Sindh
95-Sindh Secretariat 4-B, Karachi
Tel: +9221 9920 4423