Karachi Division

Karachi : ReNews Pakistan
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has launched a PKR 14 billion citywide infrastructure programme to rehabilitate 139 roads across Karachi, marking one of the city's largest municipal road improvement initiatives in recent years. The programme aims to enhance road infrastructure, improve urban mobility and upgrade essential public services across all districts of the metropolitan city.
The initiative was announced by Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab during a review meeting held at the KMC headquarters, where officials discussed the implementation strategy and progress of the project. According to the mayor, the programme reflects KMC's long term commitment to improving Karachi's transport network and strengthening municipal infrastructure to better serve residents.
The rehabilitation programme includes the reconstruction and repair of major roads, drainage system upgrades, replacement of aging water supply pipelines and the installation of modern street lighting on key roads and corridors. Officials believe these improvements will help reduce traffic congestion, minimize waterlogging during the monsoon season and enhance public safety, particularly during nighttime.
The road rehabilitation plan covers all major districts of Karachi, including Landhi, Korangi, Saddar, Central and Keamari. Among the key roads included in the project are Kashmir Road, Nishtar Road, Johar Road, Siddiq Wahab Road and Hira Lal Road, along with several important industrial and commercial routes that support the city's economic activity.
As part of the infrastructure upgrade, KMC will also modernize street lighting on several major arteries, including M.A. Jinnah Road, Shahrah e Liaquat, Shahrah e Ibn Sina, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Abul Hassan Isphani Road, Shahrah e Attar, Fatima Jinnah Road and SUPARCO Road. The new lighting system is expected to improve visibility, road safety and overall urban aesthetics.
KMC Director General Technical Services Tariq Mughal informed the meeting that the tendering process for civil works covering road rehabilitation, drainage, water supply and electrical infrastructure has been completed in accordance with public procurement regulations. He said work orders for contractors are expected to be issued shortly, allowing construction activities to begin in the coming weeks.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab instructed all concerned departments to ensure transparency throughout the execution process, maintain high construction standards and complete the projects within the approved timelines. He emphasized that strict monitoring mechanisms would be implemented to ensure quality work and efficient utilization of public funds.
Municipal officials stated that the road rehabilitation programme forms part of KMC's broader urban development strategy aimed at improving municipal services, strengthening infrastructure resilience and supporting Karachi's growing transportation needs. Once completed, the initiative is expected to significantly improve connectivity, reduce travel disruptions and enhance the overall quality of life for residents across Pakistan's largest city.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
Pakistan has offered Kazakhstan access to Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port while seeking joint ventures between companies of the two countries in shipping, logistics and coastal free zones.
The proposal aims to provide Kazakhstan and other landlocked Central Asian countries with maritime access to markets in the Persian Gulf, Africa and Southeast Asia through Pakistani ports.
The offer was discussed during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin. The two sides reviewed opportunities to expand bilateral trade, cargo transit and maritime transport cooperation.
The maritime minister said Pakistani ports could serve as major commercial and transit hubs for Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region. Access to these ports could provide Central Asian businesses with shorter and more efficient maritime routes to international markets.
The two sides also discussed possible joint ventures in coastal free zones to unlock the commercial potential of Pakistan’s ports. Investment opportunities could include warehouses, cargo terminals, cold storage facilities, container handling, shipping services and industrial infrastructure.
The government believes partnerships between Pakistani and foreign companies could improve port capacity and help position the country as a regional centre for logistics and transit trade.
Access for Kazakh cargo could create new business opportunities for port operators, shipping companies, transport businesses, freight forwarders and warehousing service providers in Pakistan.
If implemented, the proposal could increase cargo volumes, transit fee income and demand for supporting commercial services at Pakistani ports. It could also encourage industrial and logistics investment around Gwadar, Karachi Port and Port Qasim.
Pakistan and Kazakhstan agreed to strengthen engagement in ports, maritime transport, regional connectivity and trade facilitation. However, final details regarding the transit arrangement, investment commitments and proposed joint ventures have not yet been announced.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Pakistan’s real estate market is showing clear signs of recovery, with demand and prices for residential properties continuing to rise across major cities. Market experts say improved investor confidence, government incentives and changing geopolitical conditions in the region have generated renewed activity in the property sector.
Market observers estimate that residential property prices in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad have increased by around 10% to 15% in recent weeks. The limited availability of quality housing projects and growing interest from both local and overseas Pakistani investors have pushed prices further upward.
Industry experts say the main factors behind the market recovery include reductions in property transaction taxes under the Finance Act 2025–26, the expansion of the federal government’s subsidised housing finance programme and the growing perception of real estate as a relatively secure long-term investment.
Ibrahim Amin, Chairman of TriStar International, said ongoing tensions in the Middle East have encouraged many investors to diversify their portfolios, resulting in increased capital flows towards Pakistan’s real estate market.
He said Pakistan’s property sector continues to offer comparatively affordable investment opportunities and stronger long-term return potential than several regional markets.
According to Amin, demand for houses and apartments has increased significantly in Defence Housing Authority and other premium and well-developed residential areas. Limited supplies of completed housing units have also contributed to further price increases in several key locations.
The federal government’s decision to reduce withholding taxes on property transactions has also supported market activity.
Under the Finance Act 2025–26, the withholding tax on property purchases for tax filers was reduced from 2.5% to 1.25%, while the tax on property sales was lowered from 5.5% to 2.75%.
The government introduced the tax relief to encourage investment in the construction and real estate sectors.
Real estate consultant Maaz Liaquat said demand for residential plots, houses, apartments and commercial properties has increased considerably over the past few weeks.
He said buyers are now giving greater preference to completed houses and apartments instead of newly launched housing schemes or plots.
In Karachi, the limited supply of new housing projects has led to a comparatively sharper rise in property prices.
In Lahore and Islamabad, investors are showing greater interest in large housing developments and high-rise residential projects.
Meanwhile, first-time homebuyers are using the Prime Minister’s Wazir-e-Azam Apna Ghar Programme to purchase homes in suburban areas through bank financing.
According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, commercial and microfinance banks have received around 107,000 applications under the housing finance programme.
Of these, approximately 27,000 applications have been approved, 13,000 have been rejected, while the remaining applications are still under review.
The government aims to facilitate around 150,000 beneficiaries under the programme during the current fiscal year.
Eligible applicants can obtain financing of up to Rs10 million to purchase a house, apartment or plot, or to construct a home on land they already own.
Despite the improvement in market activity, industry stakeholders say further reforms are needed to sustain the recovery over the longer term.
They have urged the government to improve access to bank financing for builders and developers, simplify approval procedures and offer additional incentives for the launch of new residential projects.
Experts believe that increasing the number of housing projects could help address Pakistan’s estimated shortage of around 12 million housing units.
They said the expansion of the housing sector could also create jobs and stimulate economic activity in construction, cement, steel, glass, tiles, paint, banking and other allied industries.