Sindh Province

Karachi: ReNews Pakistan
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab inaugurated a newly constructed road developed by English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM), built using recycled industrial plastic waste, marking a step toward sustainable urban infrastructure and environmental innovation.
The road, located near EBM’s manufacturing facility in Karachi, is designed to improve connectivity within the industrial zone and facilitate smoother movement of both traffic and logistics vehicles. The project highlights how industrial plastic waste can be repurposed into durable infrastructure, reducing landfill burden while offering a scalable model for future urban development.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with Concept Loop, is part of EBM’s broader sustainability strategy focused on circular economy practices, waste reduction, and responsible resource utilization. It also demonstrates how private-sector innovation can contribute to solving environmental challenges in urban Pakistan.
Speaking at the inauguration, EBM Executive Director Shahzain Munir said the company has always placed innovation at the center of its operations. He added that the project reflects EBM’s commitment to converting waste into long-term value and emphasized the importance of public–private partnerships in driving meaningful impact.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab praised the initiative, calling it a practical solution for Karachi’s infrastructure and environmental challenges. He noted that such efforts from the private sector are essential for delivering measurable improvements in urban development.
The inauguration event also included awareness activities aimed at promoting sustainable practices and responsible waste management.
On the same day, the mayor also laid the foundation stone for the rehabilitation of Mirza Adam Khan Road in Lyari Town, a project costing around Rs400 million. The scheme includes road construction as well as significant upgrades to the drainage system under Package-03.
Officials said the project involves a 4.48-kilometre dual carriageway and a 26-foot-wide road designed to improve traffic flow. A 4.61-kilometre drainage line, along with additional sewerage infrastructure, will also be installed to address long-standing drainage issues in the area.
The mayor said the development of Lyari’s infrastructure is a priority and confirmed that work is being carried out with a focus on quality and transparency. He added that Mirza Adam Khan Road is a key artery connecting Mauripur Road and the Garden areas and serves as an important alternative route during heavy traffic congestion.
He further stated that under the Lyari Transformation Project, launched on the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, development work worth around Rs5 billion is underway in its first phase. He added that major water and road infrastructure projects in the area are progressing rapidly and are expected to be completed within the stipulated timelines.

Karachi: ReNews Pakistan
Highlighting the long-term impact of the devastating 2022 floods, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah stated that over 19,500 schools across the province were damaged, severely disrupting the education system in flood-affected areas.
In response to the widespread destruction, the provincial government has initiated reconstruction and rehabilitation work on more than 5,000 schools through provincial, federal, and donor-funded programmes. These efforts aim to restore educational access for over 1.4 million students who were affected by the disaster.
Officials said the floods not only destroyed school buildings but also exposed vulnerabilities in infrastructure, particularly in low-lying and rural regions. Many schools were either completely washed away or rendered unsafe, forcing students to remain out of classrooms for extended periods.
The ongoing rebuilding process focuses on constructing resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding future climate-related disasters. Authorities are prioritizing the worst-hit districts, where the floods caused the most severe damage to public facilities, including schools.
The chief minister emphasized that the rehabilitation of schools is a critical component of broader flood recovery efforts, aimed at normalizing life and restoring essential public services in affected communities.
Experts noted that beyond physical reconstruction, the initiative is vital for addressing learning losses caused by prolonged disruptions, especially among children in vulnerable communities.
The Sindh government, in collaboration with international partners, reaffirmed its commitment to completing the reconstruction work at the earliest, ensuring that flood-affected students can safely return to schools and resume their education without further delay.

Hyderabad | ReNews Pakistan
The re-lining of Akram Wah, a left bank perennial canal of Kotri Barrage, has been finalized as a long-term solution to address persistent water shortages in agricultural lands within its command area, particularly in tail-end regions.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce freshwater losses caused by seepage and enable the canal to carry its designed discharge capacity—something it has not achieved since its construction in the 1950s.
The project is being implemented under the World Bank-funded Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) programme, with an overall cost of $320 million. The programme comprises separate components for agriculture and water sector reforms.
According to officials, the procurement process for the project will commence next month, while physical re-lining work will begin after the conclusion of the upcoming kharif season. Authorities explained that construction activities cannot be undertaken during this period due to increased water demand for summer crops.
The decision to reline the canal was taken following a detailed assessment by Project Implementation Consultants (PICs), including National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) and Associated Consulting Engineers (ACE). The consultants reviewed an earlier feasibility report prepared under the Water Sector Improvement Project (WSIP), executed by the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA).
Based on their findings, the consultants recommended maintaining re-lining work from RD-0 to RD-193 to effectively control seepage losses and conserve freshwater.
Project Director of the SWAT water component, Jamal Mangan, stated that the rehabilitation cost of Akram Wah has reached approximately Rs21 billion. Experts believe that upon completion, the project will improve water efficiency, enhance agricultural productivity, and ensure equitable water distribution, especially benefiting farmers in tail-end areas.
Local farming communities have welcomed the initiative, expressing optimism that timely execution will strengthen irrigation infrastructure and support sustainable agricultural growth in the region.