Sindh Government, Secret of Rural and Urban Development, Some Suggestions
Rahmatullah Buriro
The Sindh government has been under the supervision and leadership of the PPP for the past decade and a half. It is not appropriate to deny the services rendered by the Sindh government or the PPP leadership, but despite this, the work that should have been done in a proper and timely manner during this decade and a half has not been done. It is regrettable that it is less.The report and figures presented by the Minister of the Ministry of Works and Services of the Sindh government in the recent budget session of 2025 regarding infrastructure in Sindh can be said that if the Sindh government as a whole and the Ministry of Works and Services had worked in the same way as the current Minister in the past decade, perhaps the net of development would have been spread in Sindh. In this information age, where unnecessary and timely criticism is made of social media and the media, most of the ministries that have become the target of the Sindh cabinet have become the ministries of Haji Ali Hassan Zardari. Ali Hassan Zardari is the only minister of the Sindh cabinet who has two important ministries of Sindh.The Ministry of Works and Services. In this regard, the Provincial Minister for Works and Services Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, while speaking in the budget meeting, also described the performance of the department’s development works as follows, which can be called the best performance in a short period of time in the ministry under his leadership. In which he said that the details of the development works carried out in Sindh by the Works and Services Department of the Sindh Government have also been presented as follows. During the current financial year, 350 projects of 2939 kilometers have been completed in different districts of Sindh. And in the next financial year, 334 schemes will be completed in different districts of Sindh. 22 schemes and 163 kilometers of roads have been completed in Badin district, 10 schemes and 126 kilometers of roads in Thatta district, 9 schemes and 49 kilometers of roads have been completed in Sajawal district. Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of the Peshwaran Health Center in Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical College Lyari, Karachi and the establishment of basic health units in different districts have been completed. The centers have been upgraded. Centers were established for the rehabilitation and convenience of senior citizens. Reconstruction work of courts was done in various cities. Meanwhile, work is underway on 5 major road projects with the support of the federal government. Presenting a report in such a budget meeting, Minister for Works and Construction Haji Ali Hassan Zardari said that 107 kilometers of roads were constructed on an emergency basis to restore roads damaged due to rains. Addressing the budget meeting, Provincial Minister for Works and Services said that increasing public facilities, providing quality infrastructure and inclusive development are part of our government’s priorities. Minister Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, who has been criticized on print media and social media as well as electronic media,After reading the statistics on the performance of the Ministry of Justice and especially on the better treatment of prisoners in jails and the construction of jails, it can be said that it is a matter of joy that these two ministries have given or presented so much performance despite having a simple role. For this, some suggestions are being given below to improve the urban infrastructure of Sindh in general and the rural areas of Sindh in particular. It is hoped that if they are considered and implemented, it will also be a good practice.
Some suggestions are given below to improve the rural and urban road infrastructure of Sindh.The road infrastructure of Sindh, especially in rural areas, is suffering from many problems. The poor condition of the roads, lack of maintenance, lack of proper drainage system and unplanned development have had a negative impact on daily life, economy and public facilities.
Planning:
The geography, population, traffic and local needs of the areas should be taken into account for comprehensive planning.
Proper routing and road priorities should be determined with the help of digital maps and GIS technology.
What are the suggestions for rural areas?
Paved link roads: Paved link roads should be constructed to connect villages with nearby cities.
Roads for agriculture: Special agricultural roads should be constructed for easy access to agricultural lands. Rainwater drainage system: Proper arrangement of drains and drainage is essential to keep rural roads safe.
Economic development through use of local labor: Local people should be provided jobs in road construction.
Suggestions were made for urban areas. Smart traffic system: Smart traffic signals, cameras, and traffic management system in big cities (Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur).
Flyovers and underpasses: To reduce traffic pressure at busy intersections.
Road safety and pedestrian paths: Safety boards, streetlights, and footpaths are mandatory in urban areas. Design for public transport: Attention should be paid to BRT, bus stops, and cycle paths.
Maintenance and Monitoring: Regular budget for annual inspection and road repairs.
Watch committees should be formed at the local level to monitor the contracting system. Anti-corruption mechanism: Online reporting system for project transparency.
Environmental protection and sustainability: Use of eco-friendly materials such as recycled asphalt, green concrete, etc. Planting trees on both sides of roads: To reduce heat and air pollution. If the road infrastructure of Sindh is properly planned, constructed and maintained, it will not only facilitate the movement of the common people but will also increase economic development, educational access, health facilities and employment opportunities. For this, this matter has been placed before Sindh and especially the Minister for Works and Services, Haji Ali Hassan Zardari. By not caring about unnecessary criticism and using positive criticism for his own development, he can do better and bring more efficiency as an active minister in the Sindh cabinet.
