Malir Expressway to be named as “Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto Expressway”

In a significant development, the Sindh Government has announced that the Malir Expressway will be officially renamed as “Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto Expressway,” as reported by national media on Wednesday.

According to a report by ARY News, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed this decision and further explained the traffic regulations for the expressway. “Both heavy traffic and normal vehicles will be permitted to use the expressway. However, motorcycles and rickshaws will be strictly prohibited,” he stated.

The decision to rename the expressway in honor of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a prominent political leader and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, is expected to add historical significance to the project.

Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah personally inspected a 9-km stretch of the Malir Expressway, located between Jam Sadiq Bridge and Shah Faisal Interchange. Conducting the inspection without protocol, he issued instructions to ensure the project’s completion by December 30, aiming for the expressway to open for public use.

In December 2024, Shah had also warned officials, including the Karachi Commissioner and DIG Police, to take swift action against encroachments and illegal parking along the route. Speaking directly to Engineer Khalid Mansoor, Shah emphasized the importance of clearing illegal structures and accelerating work to avoid any delays in the traffic flow.

Once operational, the expressway is set to revolutionize travel times across the city. The route will significantly reduce the travel time between Jam Sadiq Bridge and Jinnah Terminal to just 15 minutes. This will improve connectivity between key areas such as Shah Faisal, the airport, Shahrah-e-Faisal, and the National Highway. The expressway will be exclusively for vehicles, with no allowance for motorcycles or rickshaws, as part of a bid to ensure smoother and safer transportation.

Security checkpoints will be strategically placed to guarantee the safety of commuters. The opening of the expressway’s first phase will prioritize traffic flow improvements, with the second phase focusing on extending the route to Kathore.

Ahead of the project’s completion, the Chief Minister ordered the installation of road lighting and announced plans for a night inspection to evaluate safety measures. Shah described the expressway as a “game-changer” for Karachi’s infrastructure, offering a lasting solution to the city’s chronic traffic congestion. He underscored the project’s importance for both daily commuters and cargo transport, calling it vital for Karachi’s future development.

The project’s timely completion and its planned extensions are seen as crucial steps in enhancing the city’s overall transport network and addressing its mounting traffic issues.