THATTA: President Asif Ali Zardari will finalise agreements for transformative projects, including the 192km coastal highway connecting Keti Bandar and Badin via Shah Bandar, during his visit to China next month.

This was stated by Sindh Minister for Works, Services and Prisons Haji Ali Hassan Zardari while speaking to journalists during his visit to the site — the Garho-Baghan section of the highway — on Monday.

Highlighting the importance of the project, the minister said that it would create great opportunities for economic activities by improving connectivity across the coastal and lower Sindh regions. He said the project was a joint venture of the federal and provincial governments.

The road will cross the Indus to link Bhanbhore and Shah Bandar, and onwards Badin as well, according to him.

This strip consists of three sections being built at a cost of Rs1.5bn.

President Zardari, on the recommendation of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, had succeeded in including this project in the CPEC to ensure its timely completion, said the minister, adding that simultaneously, a railway link between Tharparkar and Keti Bandar was also being developed with the assistance of China.

National Highway Authority (NHA) General Manager Obaidullah Umrani and Thatta District Council Chairman Abdul Hameed Panhwar accompanied the minister during his visit.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2025