Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Visits Karachi, Pledges Support for Development Projects

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Karachi on Tuesday for a one-day visit, his first to the port city since assuming office for his second term. During his visit, the Prime Minister held meetings with Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to discuss the overall political situation and administrative affairs of the province.

In a meeting with the Sindh cabinet, Prime Minister Sharif directed federal authorities to remove all obstacles in the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project and assured the Sindh government that all of its financial and development-related issues pending with the federal government would be resolved. He also announced that the provincial government would receive 150 buses to add to its fleet, following a request from Sindh Minister for Transport, Sharjeel Inam Memon.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need for a collective approach from all political stakeholders to move the country forward, while respecting the mandate given by the people in the general elections. "Working together is the only option for the country's prosperity, and we will make no compromises on this," he stated.

During his visit, Prime Minister Sharif also met with prominent personalities from the business community and a delegation from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to discuss suggestions for improving the country's economy. He assured the business leaders that the privatization process would be carried out in a transparent manner without any bureaucratic impediments and that the government would consult the business community before finalizing any transactions.

Why this matters: Prime Minister Sharif's visit to Karachi and his meetings with key stakeholders demonstrate the federal government's commitment to addressing the developmental needs of Sindh province. The assurances given by the Prime Minister regarding the resolution of financial and development-related issues are expected to boost confidence and facilitate the progress of critical projects in the region.

In a separate development, Prime Minister Sharif took notice of the exorbitantly high gas and electricity tariffs and assured the business leaders that the government would consider KCCI's suggestions for bringing down the energy tariffs. He also directed the finance minister to start work on reducing the interest rate as inflation has eased. "The upcoming visits of delegations from Saudi Arabia and Iran will not only result in higher foreign investment but also strengthen the country's economy," the Prime Minister added.

Concluding his visit, Prime Minister Sharif paid homage at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, where he laid a floral wreath and offered prayers. The Prime Minister's visit to Karachi aimed to address outstanding matters between the federal and provincial governments and facilitate the progress of developmental projects in Sindh province.

Key Takeaways

• PM Shehbaz Sharif visited Karachi, met with Sindh leaders to discuss political, admin affairs.
• Assured Sindh govt of resolving financial, development issues; announced 150 buses for Sindh.
• Emphasized need for collective approach, no compromises on country's prosperity.
• Met business leaders, assured transparent privatization process, reduction in energy tariffs.
• Paid homage at Quaid-e-Azam's mausoleum, aimed to address federal-provincial matters.