Civil society rejects plan to build Qayyumabad-Karachi Port elevated corridor

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• Raises serious concerns regarding continuous noise pollution, environmental degradation, public health and privacy KARACHI: Experts, representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil society members, including residents of Clifton and Defence, on Saturday rejected the proposed elevated Qayyumabad-Karachi Port Corridor project over concerns related to privacy, continuous noise pollution, environmental degradation and public health. They expressed their apprehensions regarding the 16.5-km-long, four-lane elevated corridor designed to bypass inner-city traffic and directly connect Karachi Port’s East Wharf to the recently inaugurated Shahrah-i-Bhutto at a press conference organised by the Karachi Citizens Forum (KCF) here at the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) House. In May, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had performed the groundbreaking of the Rs65 billion project to be constructed under the public-private partnership model. At Saturday’s presser, KCF’s convener Nargis Rahman said that the proposed route of the scheme originates from East and West Wharf and the South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPT) deep sea port and traverses over Chinna Creek, proceeding to Boat Basin and continuing on an elevated structure toward Khayaban-i-Jami (Schon Circle, Punjab Chowrangi, Delhi Colony, Altamash Hospital) and ultimately Sunset Boulevard in DHA, connecting to the Shahrah-i-Bhutto Expressway via Korangi Road. “According to the proposed plan, the elevated expressway proximity to densely populated residential areas, including DHA and Clifton, raises serious concerns regarding privacy, continuous noise pollution, environmental degradation and public health. The anticipated 24-hour movement of heavy vehicles may have an adverse impact on the well-being, safety and economic stability of residents,” she added. Speaking on the occasion, Amber Alibhai of Shehri-Citizens for a Better Environment said that with all the flawed constructions taking place all over the city, “Karachi is already on its last legs and this project is like putting another nail in its coffin.” Mohammad Toheed of the Karachi Urban Lab said that the government already did a lot of damage to build the Malir Expressway (now called Shahrah-i-Bhutto). “Now to make that project look useful it has brought in this project, which is another disaster,” he said, adding that the public was not consulted when making such decisions for construction of unnecessary projects behind closed doors. Zahid Farooq, joint director of Urban Resource Centre, said that they are not against development. “But development at what cost,” he asked. “There was a public consensus required here but a small public hearing was arranged after printing a notice about it in a small newspaper. Therefore, most people did not even know about it. The relationship between the government and the people should be built on trust. But here the government is building distances between itself and the people, who are now losing confidence in the government,” he said. Architect Arif Belgaumi noted that Clifton and Defence, the main areas through which the project is supposed to pass, are densely populated, with multiple families residing there, besides having many office buildings. “With occupancy on the rise there, you need to provide them with more amenities and utilities. There should be more hospitals, schools, parks, markets and mosques instead of the government proposing an elevated expressway over their heads, which will see some 13,000 heavy vehicles pass every 24 hours to create air pollution and noise pollution,” he said. “The congestion that it will cause will make the place unliveable,” he added. Syed Jamal Macdi, a DHA resident, said the government seems to be spending so much money at the cost of the people and the environment. “The port anyway comes under the federal government. After the 18th Amendment, the provinces should look into fixing their issues,” he said, adding that the project will also result in causing damage to the mangroves. Rasha Tarek, a KCF member and resident of Clifton Block 5, said that Clifton has schools, community spaces such as parks, Boat Basin, the food street, etc. “An elevated corridor will not let Clifton stay the same,” she said. Humaira Khan, president of the Clifton Defence Community and Clifton Block 5 Residents Association, alleged that the government had organised a “fake” Sindh Environmental Protection Agency meeting to okay the project. “All the people there were their own people,” she claimed. “If this project comes up, Clifton and DHA will turn into Mauripur,” she warned. Dr Aliya Rehman, Sana Zuberi, PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro and KCF co-convener Dr Qaiser Sajjad also spoke. Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2026

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