Karachi, March 23 – On Pakistan Day, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, alongside Governor Kamran Tessori and cabinet members, paid homage at Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s mausoleum, offering prayers and laying flowers. Addressing the media, CM Shah highlighted the historical significance of March 23, 1940, when the Pakistan Resolution was adopted, paving the way for the nation’s creation. He also recalled the 1971 tragedy and praised Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s role in reuniting Pakistan.
Turning to security concerns, Shah condemned recent terrorist attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, including the Jaffer Express incident and violence in Noshki, Kalat, and Bannu. He stressed the need for collective action against terrorism, criticizing political figures who skipped National Security Committee meetings in the past.
On infrastructure, Shah expressed frustration over the stalled Hyderabad-Sukkur motorway, a project vital for national trade, not just Sindh. Despite funds allocated under the PSDP, progress remains stagnant. Shah recalled Sindh’s objections in ECNEC, emphasizing equitable development as a constitutional right. He insisted the motorway should take precedence over other regional road projects and offered Sindh’s financial contribution to speed up construction, despite believing the province shouldn’t bear the cost.
Addressing water concerns, Shah firmly denied rumors of canal construction in Sindh, stating no such plans exist. He assured that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would personally visit affected areas to clarify misinformation. Shah reiterated that even lands allocated for corporate farming would not receive canal water, and urged the federal government to convene a Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting to resolve water and other disputes.
Shah also underscored provincial autonomy, vowing to block federal projects in Sindh without provincial consent, citing past inefficiencies during Imran Khan’s tenure when overlapping federal-provincial initiatives caused waste. He concluded with a prayer for Pakistan’s progress and a call for citizens to stand united in defense of the nation.
