Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari inaugurated the first phase of the six-lane Malir Expressway, now renamed the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway, providing uninterrupted access to the National Highway. The 9.1km stretch from Qayyumabad to Shah Faisal was partially opened today, with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah accompanying the ceremony.
Bilawal personally drove along the newly inaugurated route, inspecting it alongside Murad Ali Shah from the Shah Faisal intersection to the toll plaza.
Murad Ali Shah described the expressway as Pakistan’s largest public-private partnership project, spanning 39km from Korangi Creek Avenue to the Malir River, at an estimated cost of Rs55 billion. Equipped with modern facilities, the project promises to enhance transportation for Karachi’s residents.
Once fully operational in 2025, the expressway will connect to the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) via DHA and the existing link road, offering an alternative to Shahrah-e-Faisal and improving access to major industrial zones.
Provincial Minister Sharjeel Memon stated, “Bhutto Road represents a step towards development,” highlighting its role in reducing road congestion, fuel consumption, and travel times by up to 50%. The expressway is also expected to boost business and industrial connections to hubs like Dhabeji and Steel Mill.