The Malir Expressway, planned to connect Qayyumabad near Malir River to Motorway M9, was inaugurated prematurely without meeting the completion deadline.
According to a report by Afzal Nadeem Dogar, the rushed inauguration of the incomplete project has raised significant safety concerns among commuters.
On Sunday, a reporter from Geo News traveled along the Malir Expressway and observed ongoing construction at multiple locations. Construction workers, heavy machinery, and construction materials were visibly present on the site.
Despite restrictions, motorcycles dominated the expressway, with many riders ignoring safety protocols such as wearing helmets or following traffic rules. There was no presence of traffic police or officials to enforce rules, and no measures were in place to prevent pedestrians from crossing or walking on the high-speed expressway.
Amid fast-moving traffic, young people and vagrants were seen loitering along the expressway. At several points, individuals were spotted dangerously crossing the highway or sitting on the median wall with parked motorcycles nearby.
Near Shah Faisal Colony Toll Plaza, impromptu cricket matches were being played on the highway. Additionally, the starting point of the expressway at Qayyumabad featured incomplete interchanges, while Korangi Causeway interchanges remained unopened. Vehicles were observed entering the expressway via unauthorized one-way routes.
The lack of directional boards or banners to guide commuters added to the chaos, and there was no clear indication of which vehicles were allowed on the expressway. Traffic police were notably absent, leaving the expressway unmonitored.
DIG Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema stated that the expressway had been inaugurated only a day prior, and two temporary traffic police vehicles were deployed for now. He clarified that this is a Sindh government project, and permanent deployment of Karachi Traffic Police will occur within a couple of days.
The expressway, officially named Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Road, remains far from achieving its intended functionality due to its incomplete state.
The spokesperson for the Chief Minister of Sindh, Abdul Rasheed Channa, assured that full security arrangements have been made, with deployment beginning in a couple of days. Police patrolling will operate 24/7 on the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Road, and a Rescue 1122 unit has been established on the expressway to address potential emergencies.
