Pakistan is constructing what is set to become the longest river bridge in South Asia — a 12.5-kilometre structure connecting Ghotki and Kandhkot in Sindh province. The project, which began two years ago, is expected to be completed by 2028 at a cost of Rs30.5 billion, according to a senior provincial official.
Speaking to Business Recorder, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to the Sindh Chief Minister on Investment and Public-Private Partnership, said the bridge would transform connectivity between Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan.
“This will be the longest river bridge in the region and will play a key role in improving access and economic prospects across three provinces,” he said.
The Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge is designed to cut travel time across the Indus River from 2.5 hours to just 15 minutes, offering a direct route in an area that currently depends on ferries and distant crossings.
Officials say the project could also help improve security in the surrounding ‘katcha’ areas — underdeveloped riverine regions that have long struggled with law and order issues, including kidnapping.
Qamar noted that Ghotki has experienced some industrial and road development in recent years, while Kandhkot has lagged behind. “This bridge will bring job opportunities and economic activity to Kandhkot, lifting living standards in the area,” he said.
The announcement was made during a meeting with leading business figures, where Qamar presented several infrastructure and development projects aimed at attracting private investment through public-private partnerships.
These include plans for special economic zones, schools, hospitals, roads, and additional bridges, with a combined estimated cost exceeding Rs616 billion.
Attendees at the event included Member of the National Assembly Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry figure Zubair Motiwala, and industrialist Arif Habib, along with several other prominent business leaders.
Read next: Atlas Honda reports 57% profit growth, driven by 28% increase in sales
