Sindh CM Clarifies Hyderabad Road Construction Around Electricity Poles

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has addressed the widespread public criticism surrounding the construction of a road in Hyderabad where asphalt was laid without first removing existing electricity poles, attributing the lapse to delays in utility relocation coordination.

Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister explained that municipal contractors proceeded with the paving phase to avoid delaying the broader infrastructure project and to provide immediate relief to local residents. He noted that the provincial government had already requested the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) to shift the poles, but civil works moved ahead to prevent project stagnation while waiting for the utility provider’s team.

The incident, which gained significant traction on social media and sparked intense criticism from civic quarters, highlights persistent coordination bottlenecks between provincial municipal bodies and power distribution companies across Sindh. Urban planning experts noted that constructing roads around standing electrical infrastructure poses severe safety risks to motorists and diminishes the long-term quality of public works.

CM Murad Ali Shah directed the concerned civic departments and HESCO management to immediately complete the pole relocation and repair the affected road sections. He further assured that administrative oversight would be tightened across all ongoing and future municipal development schemes to ensure seamless inter-agency cooperation.