Karachi Division

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the establishment of two large forest zones near Karachi and Hyderabad, each spanning 10,000 acres, as part of a broader strategy to tackle environmental pollution and enhance green cover across the province.
Chairing a meeting of the Forest Department, the chief minister observed that vast stretches of forest land around both cities remain underutilized despite increasing environmental degradation and urban pollution. He instructed officials to bring these areas under large-scale afforestation initiatives.
Under the proposed plan, two separate forest blocks will be developed, each covering 10,000 acres. The chief minister also emphasized the use of modern irrigation techniques, including drip irrigation systems, to ensure sustainable plantation growth.
During the briefing, Forest Department Secretary Asif Hyder Shah informed the meeting that Sindh’s total forest area stands at approximately 3.3 million acres, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the province’s total land. This includes mangrove forests, riverine forests, irrigation plantations, rangelands, and coastal vegetation.
He also shared details on forest distribution and ongoing plantation campaigns, highlighting previous achievements such as large scale mangrove plantations and record tree planting drives.
Murad Ali Shah set a new target of planting one million mangroves, with a province wide plantation campaign scheduled to commence on March 23. Officials further noted that hundreds of thousands of trees have already been planted in recent years across different categories, alongside efforts to expand nurseries and promote linear plantations.
The chief minister also directed strict action against lease violations and encroachments on forest land, stressing the importance of protecting existing green cover and ensuring effective land management.

Karachi/Gwadar | ReNews Pakistan
Pakistan has formally operationalised a new international transit trade corridor through Iran with the activation of the Gabd Rimdan border terminal, marking a significant step toward strengthening regional trade links and diversifying transport routes across Central and South Asia.
The initiative, led by the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), integrates the Gabd Border Terminal into the Transit International Roads (TIR) system, enabling faster and more secure movement of goods across borders. The development is being viewed as part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to enhance connectivity with Central Asian markets while reducing dependence on traditional transit routes through Afghanistan.
Located between Gabd in Balochistan and Rimdan in Iran’s Sistan Baluchestan province, the upgraded terminal is equipped with modern scanning technology and facilities designed to support containerised and refrigerated cargo. The terminal officially became operational in April 2026.
Authorities say the new corridor offers a shorter, more efficient, and secure trade route linking Karachi with Central Asian destinations via Iran. It is expected to help lower transportation costs and reduce delays by streamlining customs procedures under the TIR framework, which allows goods to move across multiple countries with minimal border checks.
As part of the launch, Pakistan dispatched its first export consignment under the new route from Karachi to Tashkent. The shipment, consisting of frozen meat, successfully cleared customs and continued its journey through Iran toward Uzbekistan.
An inauguration ceremony held in Karachi was attended by senior customs officials and representatives of the logistics sector, who described the development as a major milestone in regional trade integration and a boost for Pakistan’s emerging role as a transit hub between South Asia and Central Asia.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved Phase II of the Karachi Safe City Project, aimed at establishing a comprehensive, technology driven surveillance system across the city.
During a meeting chaired by the chief minister, officials presented a detailed briefing on the project. Under the plan, more than 2,300 smart cameras will be installed across various districts of Karachi. These include 870 cameras for general surveillance, 1,300 equipped with automatic number plate recognition and facial recognition technology, and 80 dedicated to traffic law enforcement. Additionally, 56 mobile surveillance units and eight cameras for traffic signal monitoring will be deployed.
The total cost of the project has been estimated at Rs9.98 billion, with a completion timeline of 12 months. The project is expected to be formally launched in May 2026.
The chief minister directed authorities to ensure timely completion to avoid cost escalations due to delays. He also approved transparent, merit based recruitment of technical staff for the Sindh Safe City Authority.
The meeting also discussed proposals to initiate similar safe city projects in other major cities, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas, and Shaheed Benazirabad. Officials stated that around 780 cameras would be installed in these cities at an estimated cost of Rs3.15 billion.
The chief minister emphasized that all safe city projects across the province should be integrated and managed through a centralized system under the Sindh Safe Cities Authority to enhance overall security and surveillance efficiency.