Pakistan Building South Asia’s Longest River Bridge

Pakistan is currently engaged in the construction of the Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge, set to become the longest river bridge in South Asia. Located in Sindh province, the structure will span 12.5 kilometers. A Sindh government official informed Business Recorder that the project is anticipated to reach completion by 2028, with an estimated cost of Rs30.5 billion.

Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh on Investment and Public-Private Partnership, stated during a meeting with the business community on Thursday, “This will be the longest river bridge throughout the South Asian region.”

According to Qamar, work on the project has been actively underway for the last two years. “Our goal is to finalize construction and inaugurate the bridge by 2028,” he added.

Strategically positioned to connect Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh, the bridge is projected to greatly improve regional connectivity. Qamar emphasized, “This will not only bring prosperity to Pakistan but also to the wider region.”

The bridge will significantly cut down river travel time from the existing 2.5 hours to a mere 15 minutes. He also noted, “It will assist in resolving persistent problems such as lawlessness and kidnapping incidents in katcha areas, which are the underdeveloped lowlands along the riverbanks.”

Qamar mentioned that while Ghotki has experienced some industrial development and enhanced highway connectivity, Kandhkot has not seen similar progress. “The bridge will unlock employment opportunities for the residents of Kandhkot, boosting their livelihoods.”

During the gathering with the business community, Qamar and his team presented approximately twelve projects—including initiatives for special economic zones, roads and bridges, schools, and hospitals—totaling an estimated cost exceeding Rs 616 billion.

The meeting’s primary aim was to encourage private sector involvement in these projects through public-private partnerships.

Prominent business figures in attendance included Member of the National Assembly Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry leader Zubair Motiwala, and well-known industrialist and stockbroker Arif Habib. Other notable attendees were Arif Elahi, Danish Khan, Junaid Naqi, Zahid Saeed, Sameer Chinoy, and Danish Elahi.