Sindh Province

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
Concerns have been raised over the design, traffic capacity and operational safety of Karachi’s newly opened Karimabad underpass, with transporters and urban planning experts warning that the project may face congestion and traffic management challenges despite being built to ease movement in the area.
The Karimabad underpass, constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.46 billion, stretches approximately 1,080 metres and is being described as Karachi’s longest tunnel-type underpass.
The project has been opened for traffic, but questions are now being raised over whether the structure can effectively handle the volume and type of traffic expected on the corridor.
Officials from the Karachi Development Authority said delays in the project were mainly caused by utility shifting work involving K-Electric, Sui Southern Gas Company and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation. According to officials, relocation of utility services remained one of the key reasons behind the prolonged completion timeline.
However, representatives of the transport sector have warned that the project may not fully resolve traffic pressure in the area. Muhammad Ilyas of the Karachi Transport Alliance said congestion could worsen near Musa Colony and APWA Girls College due to narrow roads, roadside encroachments and the movement of Qingqi rickshaws, particularly along the Route 7C corridor.
Urban Resource Centre Joint Director Zahid Farooq also criticized the design of the underpass, saying the structure lacks an emergency lane despite its unusual length. He warned that even a single vehicle breakdown inside the underpass could block traffic completely and cause serious inconvenience for commuters.
KDA engineers acknowledged that only two heavy vehicles can pass through the underpass at the same time. They also confirmed that no dedicated emergency lane had been included in the design, citing limited available space as the main reason.
The concerns have sparked debate over the planning and long-term functionality of major urban infrastructure projects in Karachi. Transporters and urban experts argue that while underpasses and flyovers may provide short-term relief, poor design, encroachments, narrow approach roads and weak traffic management can undermine their effectiveness.
Experts said proper monitoring, removal of encroachments, regulation of slow moving vehicles and emergency response arrangements would be essential to ensure smooth traffic flow through the Karimabad underpass and prevent future gridlocks.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Colgate Palmolive Pakistan Limited is moving to acquire major manufacturing assets of Procter and Gamble Pakistan Limited in what could become a significant transaction in Pakistan’s fast moving consumer goods sector.
According to a disclosure submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the board of directors of Colgate Palmolive Pakistan approved negotiations and entry into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Procter and Gamble Pakistan during a meeting held on May 14, 2026.
The proposed acquisition covers land, manufacturing facilities and other related assets located at Port Qasim, Karachi. The area is one of Pakistan’s most important industrial and logistics zones, hosting several major manufacturing and export oriented businesses.
Colgate Palmolive Pakistan said the transaction is subject to the execution of a final Asset Purchase Agreement, regulatory approvals and completion of necessary legal and procedural requirements. The company did not disclose the financial value of the proposed deal.
The development comes after P&G’s earlier decision to wind down its manufacturing and commercial operations in Pakistan as part of a wider global restructuring plan. The multinational company had announced that it would continue serving Pakistani consumers through regional operations and a third party distributor model.
P&G entered Pakistan in 1991 and built a strong manufacturing presence over the years, including production facilities at Port Qasim for major consumer brands such as Ariel, Pampers, Pantene, Head and Shoulders and other household products.
In 2019, the company had also invested more than 50 million dollars to expand its Port Qasim operations, highlighting the importance of the facility in its Pakistan business strategy at the time.
For Colgate Palmolive Pakistan, the proposed acquisition may strengthen its manufacturing base and expand its operational capacity at a time when local production, supply chain efficiency and cost control remain key priorities for consumer goods companies operating in the country.

Hyderabad: [ReNews Pakistan]
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the authorities concerned to complete the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Flyover project in Hyderabad by the first week of July, stressing that no further delay will be tolerated in the public interest project.
Chairing a high level meeting at the Chief Minister House, Murad Ali Shah said he would personally visit Hyderabad in July to inaugurate the flyover and open it for traffic.
He directed provincial ministers Nasir Hussain Shah, Jam Khan Shoro and Haji Ali Hassan Zardari to coordinate closely with the relevant departments and ensure that the project is completed within the given timeline.
During the briefing, the chief minister was informed that the land acquisition process for the project had been completed in 2018. However, construction work could not move forward smoothly due to litigation and other administrative and technical issues, which caused prolonged delays in completion.
Officials told the meeting that the flyover was originally part of a federally funded road scheme designed to connect Hyderabad Bypass with Ghangra Mori on the left bank of Akram Wah. The project was planned to improve traffic flow, strengthen urban connectivity and provide relief to commuters facing congestion in Hyderabad.
The meeting was further informed that major civil work on the project had already been completed, including the casting of 24 bridge girders. Despite this progress, the flyover has remained unfinished due to unresolved technical, financial and administrative matters.
Expressing concern over the delay, Murad Ali Shah directed the departments concerned to immediately resume the remaining work and remove all hurdles affecting the project. He said the government wants the flyover completed without further excuses so that citizens can benefit from improved traffic movement and better road connectivity.
The chief minister said the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Flyover is an important infrastructure project for Hyderabad and will play a key role in reducing traffic pressure in the city once opened for public use.