Karachi expressway operational after 15 years

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi inaugurated the much-awaited Lyari Expressway Project on Sunday. 

The event marked the culmination of the project of the dedicated speedy vehicular carriageway, whose completion had been delayed for more than 15 years.

The expressway is 38 kilometres long and costed Rs 10 billion for its construction - including four interchanges, one at Sorab Goth, Manghopir, Sir Shah Suleman and Maripur. Besides, 20 major bridges are also part of the project.

The project had taken over 10 years to complete due to "technical difficulties and encroachments," the Pakistani Prime Minister said while addressing the inauguration ceremony.

Although parts of the Lyari Expressway were open to traffic, a section of it remained incomplete for a number of years, rendering a vast portion inoperational. 

Abbasi, who is also expected to inaugurate the Northbound Carriageway in Karachi, will leave for Gwadar on Monday where he will chair an important meeting related to development projects in the province.